New Study links early childhood tablet use to anger outbursts + more
The Defender’s Children’s Health NewsWatch delivers the latest headlines related to children’s health and well-being, including the toxic effects of vaccines, drugs, chemicals, heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation and other toxins and the emotional risks associated with excessive use of social media and other online activities. The views expressed by other news sources cited here do not necessarily reflect the views of The Defender. Our goal is to provide readers with breaking news about children’s health.
This article was originally published by The Defender — Children’s Health Defense’s News & Views Website
New Study Links Early Childhood Tablet Use to Anger Outbursts
Virtually every parent of young children has experienced outbursts of anger and frustration from their toddlers, whether it’s time to get up, go to bed or eat a sandwich without the crusts cut off.
According to a new study, there’s another possible reason for the frequency of their outbursts: tablet use.
The new study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, shows that child tablet use at 3.5 years old was associated with a higher number of expressions of anger and frustration a year later. In addition, children who were more prone to anger and frustration at 4.5 years old were more likely to have higher tablet use a year later (at 5.5 years old).
Early childhood tablet use “may contribute to a cycle” of problems in emotional regulation, the authors wrote.
Parents Who Use Humor Have Better Relationships With Their Children, Study Finds
They say that laughter is the best medicine, but it could be a good parenting tool too, according to a new study led by researchers from Penn State.
In a pilot study, the research team found that most people viewed humor as an effective parenting tool and that a parent or caregiver’s use of humor affected the quality of their relationship with their children. Among those whose parents used humor, the majority viewed their relationship with their parents and the way they were parented in a positive light. The researchers published their findings in the journal PLOS One.
“Humor can teach people cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and promote creative problem solving and resilience,” said Benjamin Levi, professor of pediatrics and humanities at Penn State College of Medicine and senior author of the study. “My father used humor and it was very effective. I use humor in my clinical practice and with my own children. The question became, how does one constructively use humor?”
Do Plastics Cause Autism? Here’s What the Latest Study Really Says
A study out recently has prompted much media attention about the role of plastics in developing autism.
In particular, the study focused on exposure to a component of hard plastics — bisphenol A, or BPA — in the womb and the risk of boys developing this neurodevelopmental disorder.
Importantly, the study doesn’t show plastics containing BPA cause autism.
But it suggests BPA might play a role in estrogen levels in infant and school-aged boys, which can then affect their chance of being diagnosed with autism.
Coming to atheater near youSeptember 2024
Limit of 3 Hours of Weekly Screen Time for Kids Has ‘Positive Effect’ on Behavior, Mental Health: Study
When it comes to screen time and kids, less is more.
That’s according to a recent Denmark study led by Dr. Jesper Schmidt-Persson from the University of Southern Denmark. It looked at the effects of reduced screen media exposure on youth mental health.
Eighty-nine families with a total of 181 children and teens were randomly assigned to one of two groups.
The first group had to surrender their smartphones and tablets for a two-week period, and limit use of other screen media — such as TV and computers — to three hours or less per week, not counting work or school.
The control group did not have any limitations.
The groups that limited kids’ screen exposure saw improvements in mental health — particularly in how they managed their emotions and communicated with peers in helpful, considerate ways, plus a decrease in behavioral difficulties.
Pregnant Women May Not Be Drinking Enough Water, Researchers Report
Maternal under-hydration during pregnancy is associated with a range of negative birth outcomes, including low levels of adequate amniotic fluid and plasma, disrupted fetal brain development and risk of low birth weight, according to guidelines from the American Pregnancy Association and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
An interdisciplinary research team from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development recently found that, despite the risk, many pregnant women in the U.S. do not know how much water they should consume and were not tracking their water intake.
“Pregnant women do not need to panic about hydration, but it is important to consume enough fluids,” said Downs, associate director of the Penn State Social Science Research Institute.
“Hydration is important to the health of both the mother and fetus — especially as the pregnancy progresses into the second and third trimester when women need more water to form amniotic fluid, carry nutrients and enhance digestion. Our prior work has also shown that hydration levels can impact fetal birth weight.”
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