Studies have shown that excessive screen use among children significantly negatively affects their mental health, sleep quality, and physical activity. Dinner is ready. A mother calls her child. The child comes and sits down, but their eyes remain fixed on the mobile screen. They take a spoonful of rice and then turn back to the screen. Meanwhile, the parents are also busy on their phones. Four family members sit at the table, yet there is little conversation among them. This scene has become a common reality in many Nepali households today. As a result, childhood experiences in today’s society have changed drastically compared to before.
From waking up in the morning till bedtime, children’s attention is centered on screens. Mobile phones, tablets, televisions, and laptops have become an integral part of their daily lives. In many homes, it is customary to use mobiles to feed children or calm them down with videos when they cry. Teenagers spending hours on social media and online games late into the night has become a normal habit. Although children may appear calm outwardly, internally they often lack emotional connections with others and remain engaged mainly through digital means. While this seems like an easy solution, it continuously impacts their attention, emotions, relationships, and behavior on a deeper level.
International studies reveal a complex relationship between screen time and children’s mental health. Multiple researches confirm that excessive screen exposure can increase emotional problems in children. However, this relationship is not one-sided. Children who feel emotionally uncomfortable, stressed, or lonely are also more drawn to screens. This cycle operates as follows: a child feels stress, fear, emptiness, or loneliness and has limited ability to manage those feelings. The screen immediately diverts their attention, temporarily reducing discomfort. Meanwhile, the brain’s reward system activates, fostering a habit of seeking instant gratification, which gradually reduces patience and emotional resilience. Consequently, sleep quality deteriorates, irritability increases, and the child withdraws from friends and family. The child then returns to the screen again, making the behavior that seems like a solution part of the problem itself.
