Excessive screen time linked to late speech in kids, expert urges one-hour limit
Child Development Consultant Dr Enifome Ogbimi warned on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, that excessive screen time damages children’s brains and causes late speech development. Speaking in celebration of Children’s Day 2026, she advised parents to limit screen time to a maximum of one hour per day to protect their children’s speech and cognitive growth. Dr Ogbimi explained that when screens are removed, many children begin to speak earlier, highlighting the importance of face-to-face interaction as a lifelong skill that screens replace. She urged parents and guardians to understand their children’s developmental stages rather than training them to meet adult expectations, warning that mismatched expectations lead to behavioral issues. “We have to meet them where they are developmentally and train them to where we want them to be,” she said, stressing the need for caregivers to partner with institutions and government to support children’s needs at all levels. The consultant emphasized that this approach is not about gentle parenting but about applying developmental science and neuroscience to avoid placing unrealistic demands on young children. For Nigerian families, the intelligence is clear: restrict daily screen time to 60 minutes, prioritize direct interaction, learn about age-appropriate milestones, and seek guidance from child development professionals or government programs when needed.