Screen Time and Your Child’s Motor Skills: What the Research Says About the Early Years

Nov 5

5 min read

Screens are part of modern family life. A show while you make dinner or a video call with Grandma can be a real help, and no mom needs one more thing to feel guilty about. But the early years are when your child’s body and brain are learning how to move, grasp, balance, and settle themselves. Those skills are built through real, hands on play.

Here is what leading health organizations and researchers tell us about screen time in the early years, and how PlayWisely gives your child focused time to build the motor skills that matter most right now.

Screen time starts earlier than most parents realize

The research: Researchers at the National Institutes of Health followed nearly 4,000 children and published their findings in JAMA Pediatrics.

Average daily screen time grew quickly:

At 12 months: about 53 minutes a day
By age 3: more than 2.5 hours a day

87% of the children were getting more screen time than pediatricians recommend. The lead NIH researcher noted that screen habits begin early. That means the early years are the best time to build healthy ones.

What pediatricians and global health experts recommend: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

Under 18 months: no screen media, other than video chatting with family
Ages 2 to 5: no more than one hour a day of high quality programming, watched together with a parent

The World Health Organization goes a step further:

Babies: no screen time, and at least 30 minutes of tummy time spread through the day
Ages 1 to 4: at least three hours of active play every day, with no screen time for 1 year olds and less than one hour for 2 to 4 year olds

The WHO’s message is simple: young children need to sit less and play more. Following these guidelines supports both motor and cognitive development.

What research says about screen time and motor skills

The research: A study published in JAMA Pediatrics, one of the most respected journals in children’s medicine, followed about 2,400 children from age 2 to age 5. Researchers tracked the children’s development with a standard checklist pediatricians use. It covers large movement skills like walking and running, small hand skills like grasping and stacking, plus communication, problem solving, and social skills.

Children with more screen time at age 2 scored lower at age 3. Children with more screen time at age 3 scored lower at age 5. Lower scores did not lead to more screen time later, which suggests the screen time came first.

The researchers explained why. When young children watch screens, they are sitting still instead of practicing the movements that build motor skills. They also miss the back and forth play with parents that supports every area of development.

Why it matters: The simplest explanation is time. Every hour spent watching is an hour not spent crawling, reaching, climbing, throwing, and grasping. Motor skills grow through repetition, just like the brain connections behind them. The more your child moves, the stronger and more coordinated those skills become.

What this means at PlayWisely: Motor development is one of the core parts of every PlayWisely class. Your child gets focused, guided time to practice the movements their body is ready for, with a coach who knows what comes next developmentally.

Screens and self regulation

The research: In its policy on young children and media, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that heavy screen use in the first five years has been linked to difficulty with self regulation. It also advises parents to avoid using screens to soothe an upset child.

A University of Michigan study, also published in JAMA Pediatrics, followed 422 children ages 3 to 5. Some parents often used a phone or tablet to calm their child down. Those children showed more emotional ups and downs over time, especially boys. The researchers explained that a device can stop a meltdown in the moment, but it does not teach a child how to calm their own body and feelings.

So how do children learn self control? The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University explains that children are not born with these skills, but with the potential to develop them. Skills like focus, memory, and self control are built through practice. That practice happens in predictable routines, playful games, and warm relationships with caring adults.

What this means at PlayWisely: Each class follows a predictable rhythm in a small, supportive group. Children practice:

listening
waiting for a turn
moving from one activity to the next
focusing on a task

Purposeful movement gives busy little bodies a healthy outlet. You also get to see what helps your child settle and refocus, so you can use it at home.

Inside PlayWisely’s motor development time

Our motor development activities rotate on a regular cycle. Your child keeps building on familiar skills while meeting new challenges. Depending on age and stage, that includes:

Balance: walking a beam, stepping, and shifting weight
Catching and throwing: tracking a ball with the eyes and coordinating both hands
Kicking and striking: building coordination between the eyes, body, and feet
Strength: supporting core and whole body control for crawling, climbing, and sitting tall
Rotation: rolling and turning to build body awareness
Fine motor: grasping, pinching, and handling small objects to prepare little hands for writing

With no more than four children per class, our coaches can adjust each activity to your child. If your toddler loves throwing, we might have them toss a ball to you while walking the balance beam. And because you take part in class, you leave with simple ideas to keep the practice going at home.

Easy ways to trade screen time for movement at home

Babies: offer tummy time with a toy just out of reach to encourage reaching and rolling
Young toddlers: roll a ball back and forth, or build a pillow path to crawl and climb over
Older toddlers: stack blocks, scoop and pour in a bin of rice or water, or tear paper
Balance practice: put a line of painter’s tape on the floor and walk it like a tightrope
When wiggles turn into meltdowns: try a quick dance break, a big bear hug, or jumping in place together before reaching for a device

Building a strong foundation for your child’s future

Screens are not going away, and they do not have to. What matters most is making sure your child also gets plenty of time to move, explore, and connect with you. Everyday moments of reaching, balancing, catching, and calming down build coordination, focus, and confidence. Your child will carry those skills into school and beyond.

Ready to see purposeful play in action? Explore our baby, toddler, and preschool classes to find the right fit for your child’s age and stage.