Children under 5 overexposed to screens in Quebec: report

More than half of five-year-olds spend an hour or more a day in front of a screen. That’s the findings from a new report called ‘Screens and young children’ (Les écrans et les tout-petits), done by the Early Childhood Observatory (Observatoire des tout-petits).

The report shows that a child’s brain is developing at top speed when too much time in front of a screen is spent. It can deprive young children of active contribution to their overall development.

Experts say too much screen time can even result in functional and structural changes in certain areas of the brain.

This comes as hearings are being held in Quebec City about the impacts of screen time on youth. Quebec Premier François Legault proposed the commission last May, while under pressure from younger CAQ members who wanted to set the minimum age at 16 to access social networks and limit screen time at school.

‘We’re carrying them around with us, they’re present in daycares, they’re present in schools, they’re present at recess, they’re present after school,” said Anne-Marie Cech of the Community Health and Social Services Network.

Addressing a global issue

Cech, who works as a Early Childhood, Youth and Families Program Manager says the situation has become critical as screen-use has become so common.

“This exposure can have damaging effects on their development, particularly neurological development,” she said.

“For example, in children under two years old, spending time in front of a screen may harm language development, both in terms of vocabulary as well as learning the rules of communication.”

Members of the government committee for the Work of the Special Commission on the Impacts of Screens and Social Networks on the Health and Development of Young People (CSESJ) will hear from around 40 experts in the fields of education, health and social services, public security, law, and digital technology.

“I think that everyone needs to get involved to help support children in their development,” she said.

The report says that three in four Quebecers are concerned about children’s exposure to screens, especially within English-speaking families as they experience more challenges than French-speaking parents.

The release also says that English-speaking families in Quebec experience more social, economic and personal challenges than French-speaking parents.

“The reality is when English-speaking parents are going out to get services for their child or for themselves, their language becomes an additional barrier,” Cech said.

English Parents’ Committee Association president Katherine Korakakis says more services like programs and campaign runs are needed for kids to learn how to become better ‘digital citizen’. She says it has become increasingly clear how negatively impactful screen-use can be for students mental health.

“We have no education regarding the use and the appropriate use of these digital devices that are addictive,” Korakakis said.

Korakakis says her association was not contacted or asked to be part of the ongoing hearings, despite representing all English speaking parents across Quebec. 

“We should be invited to be consulted and they should hear about the realities our community faces,” she said. “I think that many times it’s an afterthought and I think it’s important that we stop being an afterthought.”

CityNews contacted the government committee for comment, they say the Commission wants to hear from a large scope of the population about the effects of screens. They invite the public to participate in an online consultation which will be deployed this fall.

“We remind you that any person or organization who wishes to contribute to the work of the Commission is invited to do so through online comments or by submitting a brief to the Select Committee on the Impacts of Screens and Social Media on Young People’s Health and Development,” they said in an email statement.

The special commission must submit its report by the end of May 2025.

Cech, says despite the challenges, she recommends that parents and schools promote environment based learning and more time away from screens, unless part of the educational program.

“In short, before the age of two: avoid screens,” Cech said. “After the age of two: limit them.”

“A child’s young brain is geared to explore and learn by interacting with their environment, screens cannot offer these rich learning opportunities.”