Learning to self-manage emotions, attention, and behaviors is a critical developmental milestone of childhood. But as children are increasingly exposed to screens at young ages, parents and healthcare providers are left with a pressing question: How is early digital media use shaping children’s ability to self-regulate?
Children and Screens held the first of its two-part #AskTheExperts webinar series on digital media and youth self-regulation, “Meltdowns to Mindfulness – Self-Regulation in a Digital World,” on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. The series kicked off with Part 1, focused on early childhood (ages 0-9). A panel of child development experts, researchers, and clinicians explored:
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- How self-regulation skills develop across early childhood, and what parents can do to promote them.
- The risks of using screens to pacify a young child, and how to foster healthy emotion regulation skills.
- How screen use impacts children’s school readiness and their ability to manage tasks and focus.
- How to avoid and reduce screen-related behavioral dysregulation.
