Health Check

Can excessive screen use cause your child to be easily distracted?

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Too much screen use can lead to a child having issues with sustained attention. Tasks like homework may become a challenge to complete. 

Indeed, as more evidence emerges on the impact of excessive screen time on a child’s cognitive development and executive functioning, the authorities have updated its screen use guidance. It comes under a new health promotion strategy called Grow Well SG, which is currently aimed at supporting families of children up to the age of 12.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo invites a clinician scientist specialising in developmental and behavioural paediatrics to discuss the impact and the rationale behind the changes. 

She is Dr Evelyn Law, an Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore, who is part of the research team for the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes birth cohort study (Gusto). This Gusto study has been going on for 14 years and had contributed to the evidence behind the various guidance in Grow Well SG.

Dr Law, a senior consultant at the Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, is also a member of the expert group that led the development of the screen use guidance in children.

Highlights (click/tap above)

2:35 What is executive function, and can frequent use of digital devices cause a child to be easily distracted?

7:46 What’s the difference between having executive function deficits and a condition like ADHD? 

11:46 What’s the difference between recreational and educational screen use?

16:01 Is there a gaming addiction problem in Singapore? 

21:41 What’s the rationale behind restricting access to social media services for children below 13?

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

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