After a stressful day at work, personal worries, or countless small tasks, many parents have little time left for their children. In such moments, a television in the child’s room or a tablet in their hands offers a welcome break at first. But gradually, this turns into a daily habit, and screen use quickly adds up to over an hour a day. As a result, some children from the age of three start their day with digital media before daycare, and they continue watching in the afternoon. Parents get used to this routine and easily overlook how much time their child actually spends in front of a screen. Two hours of media use every day add up to 14 hours a week. Young children are exposed to so many stimuli that they hardly come to rest. Instead of playing or being active, the child sits passively in front of the screen. Experts are increasingly concerned: more and more children are struggling in school, with reading, writing, concentration, or expressing themselves in words. In their early years, children expand their vocabulary mainly through conversations with adults, while physical activity improves their motor skills and encourages relaxation. In addition, children’s cognitive abilities develop primarily through personal experiences in everyday life. And a single game played together brings more joy than any digital alternative.

Experts recommend avoiding digital media for young children up to the age of three. For early media consumption can affect brain development as well as social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. However, international reports show that even children under the age of two spend an average of up to 90 minutes a day in front of a screen. For children between two and five years old, estimated daily screen time is over two hours. Doctors are increasingly concerned about this development. One pediatrician reports: »I see children every day who can barely sit still for five minutes in the waiting room. But instead of bringing a toy or looking at a book together, some parents immediately take out their smartphone to distract their child. This teaches even the youngest that digital devices provide meaningful activity instead of engaging in their own play. As a result, they miss out on valuable experiences in their surroundings, such as discovering new things that spark their curiosity and encourage them to ask questions. Additionally, more and more children’s language skills are not developing as expected for their age. While some children who are two years old already have an exceptionally large vocabulary, some children who are five years old still do not speak in complete sentences.« Digital devices cannot replace communication with caregivers or shared activities. In the first years of life, children learn primarily by playing, talking, and spending time with parents or siblings. It is important to understand that young children cannot occupy themselves for long periods and constantly seek closeness to their caregivers. The best way for this to succeed is in an environment with a loving bond to caregivers.

Teachers are increasingly concerned as more and more children struggle with their motor skills when starting school. When they ask the class to hop on one leg during physical education, the difference quickly becomes apparent: while some children effortlessly hop several meters, others hesitantly lift one leg, flail their arms, and struggle to maintain their balance. Unfortunately, this is no longer an isolated case. These uncertainties also occur when riding a scooter, balancing on a chalk line, or catching a ball in the air. The cause lies in everyday life where physical activity plays little role, while children instead spend a lot of time in front of screens. As media consumption increases, so does the number of overweight children. Instead of eating together with their parents, many children now eat their meals in front of the television. Quick snacks often replace a balanced meal. However, excessive media consumption affects not only body weight but also cognitive and social development. Frequent arguments with other children, lack of endurance, or sudden outbursts of anger are often signs of inner restlessness. Regular exercise counteracts this: Running, climbing, jumping, and balancing are all part of a child's natural development. Daily exercise strengthens muscles, balance, and concentration and helps relieve stress. It is our responsibility to provide children with enough opportunities for physical activity, as this is the key to healthy development.