THE EFFECTS OF INTENSIVE SCREEN USE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: A LITERATURE REVIEW ON EMOTIONAL REGULATION

Abstract

The use of digital technologies has become a constant part of daily life, including among younger audiences. In early childhood, a crucial period for cognitive, emotional, and social development, the intensive use of screens, such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions, has become increasingly frequent, raising concerns among educators, health professionals, and researchers. This study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the effects of the excessive use of digital technologies, such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions, during early childhood, especially in the 0-2 age range, listing their potential implications for neuropsychomotor development. This is a qualitative literature review that aimed to gather, analyze, and synthesize scientific productions on the effects of the intensive use of digital technologies in early childhood, with an emphasis on emotional regulation and neuropsychomotor development in children aged 0-2 years. Data collection was conducted from dissertations, theses, and articles indexed in SciELO, BVS, LILACS, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar, from 2015 to 2025, in Portuguese and English, using the descriptors: "child development," "early childhood," "screen exposure," "neurodevelopment," and "social interactions." Early and prolonged exposure to devices such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions influences the development of emotional, cognitive, and social skills during this sensitive period of child development. Excessive use of digital technologies by children aged 0 to 2 years can compromise neuropsychomotor, emotional, cognitive, and social development, especially when unsupervised and in environments lacking in stimulation.