Effects of digital media on children’s cognitive processes

Electronic media sources are with us every step of the way. When we wake up in the morning we are woken up by the alarm clock on our mobile phones, when we get up and listen to the radio in the car on the way to work , when we use the internet at work and when we take time out for a movie we are entertained by TV.

Many experts warn that in the 21st century, the EU is becoming a more sustainable place to live. In the 21st century, there is an increasing dependence on digital media, which in turn has a negative impact on brain function, impairs vision, causes cognitive decline and concentration, and impairs the ability to remember things well.

Digital media and children

Children’s brains develop most intensively in the first years of life, so they are most sensitive to impressions at this time. With the constant use of digital resources, children’s brains cannot cope with all the external stimuli, and they can develop various disorders – hyperactivity, hysteria and (psycho)somatic illnesses, as well as new forms of epilepsy, childhood diabetes, cancer, learning disabilities and attention disorders.

The screen of a mobile phone, tablet or TV does not offer the realistic picture that is part of real life, so the brain needs more and more stimuli, which can lead to a high dependency. Children can become dependent, out of touch with real life and asocial.

The pre-school period is crucial!

The pre-school period is important for the child’s further development, as it is during this period that, with the right stimulation, the child learns patience, respect for authority, multi-tasking and independent play. Independent play is very important during this period!

Offer your child books instead of digital resources

When you read a story to children or they read it themselves, they create their own inner pictures and imagery, strengthen their imagination and vocabulary, improve their reading skills, strengthen their concentration and memory, and more and more. Television, the computer, the mobile phone or the tablet do not stimulate the imagination, because everything is given to children “on a platter”, and they also put a lot of strain on the brain, because they are constantly stimulated.

• Books for little ones-Babybook Unikatoy- Children from 8 to 10 months of age love to look at picture books. The Unikatoy baby book presents different themes in a colourful way – water animals, dinosaurs, vehicles or morning time.

• Piqipi Interactive Quiet Books for children aged 3 years and up – The handmade Piqipi interactive textile book is a so-called a quiet book for children to play with and learn a lot from. In the book, children encounter, feel and explore different materials and objects, thus improving their sense of touch, enhancing their imagination and developing their fine motor skills.

Family activities to boost your child’s development

Families can also take time to spend together, have fun, bond, even compete. Family gatherings awaken a child’s sense of warmth, belonging and security.

Family activities you can do together include playing various Unikatoy board games or go to You can even organise your own family concert, where the parents are the listeners and the children are the musicians. This is where Unikatoy’s great musical instruments come in , with their wide selection, high quality and sense of detail. You can also make different sculptures together Woody wooden blocks, that will absolutely delight the children!