Impact of Gadget Use on Infant and Toddler Motor and Cognitive Development in the Digital Era

  • Israini suriati israini Midwifery Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Palopo, Indonesia
  • Reski Juliani Midwifery Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Palopo, Indonesia
  • Yuli Setiawati Midwifery Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Palopo, Indonesia
  • Patmahwati Midwifery Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Palopo, Indonesia
  • Sri Rahayu Amri Midwifery Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Palopo, Indonesia
Keywords: Gadget use, motor development, cognitive development, screen time, child development

Abstract

The development of digital technology has had a significant impact on various aspects of life, including child development, particularly for infants and toddlers. The use of gadgets such as smartphones, tablets, and televisions has become increasingly widespread, raising concerns about their effects on the motor and cognitive development of young children. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the duration of gadget use and motor and cognitive development in infants and toddlers aged 6 months to 5 years. The research method used is a descriptive, correlational, quantitative approach with purposive sampling, involving 150 parents of children who use gadgets. Data was collected through surveys and analyzed using Pearson correlation tests and simple linear regression. The results show a significant negative correlation between the duration of gadget use and motor development (-0.41) and cognitive development (-0.28). Children who used gadgets for longer periods showed delays in motor development, such as walking and crawling. However, the use of educational apps had a positive impact on cognitive development with a positive correlation (0.32). The study also found that age and gender did not have a significant effect on the relationship between gadget use and child development. This discussion suggests that parents should limit the duration of gadget use and prioritize physical and social activities for children to support optimal motor and cognitive development. Further research is needed to explore the impact of various types of applications on child development.

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B ADC a, A JP, A ED. The effects of action video game experience on the time course of inhibition of return and the efficiency of visual search. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2019;Volume 119(ne 2019,):Pages 217-230.

Nur Y, Sary E, Lestari DA, Hafshawaty S, Zainul P, Timur J. Hubungan Durasi Penggunaan Gadget Dengan Kemampuan Mengingat Pada Anak Usia Dini ( 4-6 Tahun ) Di Tk Pgri Sempolan Kecamatan Silo Kabupaten Jember. 2024;101–16.

Rahmawati A, Sujarwo. Pengaruh Penggunaan Gadget terhadap Perkembangan Bahasa Anak Usia Dini. Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini. 2019;4(1):54–66.

Sofiana SNA, Fakhriyah FF, Oktavianti I oktavianti. Dampak Penggunaan Gadget Pada Perkembangan Emosional dan Kognitif Siswa Kelas IV Sekolah Dasar. Indonesian Gender and Society Journal. 2023;3(2):53–9.

Rismala Y, Aguswan, Priyantoro DE, Suryadi. Dampak Penggunaan Gadget Terhadap Perkembangan Sosial Anak Usia Dini. El-Athfal : Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Pendidikan Anak. 2021;1(01):46–55.

Dilci T, Eranıl AK. The Impact of Social Media on Children. Research Anthology on Usage, Identity, and Impact of Social Media on Society and Culture. 2022;2(7):15–24.

Mahmud NU, Arief RQ, Sari K, Yuliati Y. Status Gizi Berdasarkan Pola Menyusui pada Bayi usia 7-12 Bulan. Window of Health : Jurnal Kesehatan. 2022;5(4):780–91.

Kajian S, Sel B. 105 DAIWI WIDYA Jurnal Pendidikan Vol.11 No.1 Edisi Juni 2024. 2024;11(1):105–24.

Efendi M.F. Pengaruh Gadget Terhadap Perkembangan Anak Usia Dini. Mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya PTIIK/ Teknik Informatika. 2013;1(4):3–6.

A ESC, B AV a, Sitskoorn MM. Young children and screen-based media: The impact on cognitive and socioemotional development and the importance of parental mediation. Cogn Dev. 2023;Volume 66(April–June 2023, 101319).

Swider-Cios E, Vermeij A, Sitskoorn MM. Young children and screen-based media: The impact on cognitive and socioemotional development and the importance of parental mediation. Cogn Dev. 2023;66(March):101319.

Emi C, Sardin S, Pramudia JR, Sukmana C, Ferianti F. Educational Technology in Early Childhood Education: A Systematic Literature Review. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences. 2024;35:38–45.

Ahmad AS, Azis A, Fadli F. Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Kejadian Stunting pada Balita di Kabupaten Sidrap Tahun 2020. Window of Health : Jurnal Kesehatan. 2021;04(03):195–203.

Wiyono S, Rahmawati S, Gunawan I, District J, Health C. The Impact of Providing Psychological Stimulus on Improvement Cognitive Ability of Stunted Children Under 36 Months of Age. 2024;07(04):372–82.

Rahma N, Baharuddin A, Selatan S. 926-Article Text-WOH. 2021;4(4):376–84.

Mulihatun WN, Santi MY. Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Keterlibatan Ayah dalam Pengasuhan Anak Usia Dini Article history : Public Health Faculty Universitas Muslim Indonesia Address : Email : Phone : Received 7 Mei 2021 Accepted 16 Januari 2022 PENDAHULUAN menerus pada semua area perk. Window of Health: Jurnal Kesehatan. 2022;5(1):20–34.

Sari Nurmalita MH, Mona S, Handiana CM, Ulya N, Suriati I, Kartikasari MND, et al. Metodologi Penelitian Kebidanan. 2022. 79 p.

Sukmawati AS, Sabur F, Nur M, Darmawan AR, Mahbub K, Irmawati I, Silviana S, Tawil MR, Sampurno CB, Wibowo SE AA. Buku Ajar Metodologi Penelitian. PT. Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia: PT. Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia; 2023.

Shafa A, Desti A, Dikta K, Dian Z, Azzahra A, Sagita N, et al. The influence of gadget use on early childhood: impacts and strategies for balanced development. Bulletin of Islamic Research. 2025;3(1):165–76.

Shafa A, Desti A, Dikta K, Dian Z, Azzahra A, Sagita N, et al. The influence of gadget use on early childhood: impacts and strategies for balanced development. Bulletin of Islamic Research. 2025;3(1):165–76.

Clemente-Suárez VJ, Beltrán-Velasco AI, Herrero-Roldán S, Rodriguez-Besteiro S, Martínez-Guardado I, Martín-Rodríguez A, et al. Digital device usage and childhood cognitive development: Exploring effects on cognitive abilities. Children. 2024;11(11):1299.

Al Sagr AN, Al Sagr NA. The effect of electronics on the growth and development of young children: A Narrative Review. J Health Inform Dev Ctries. 2020;14(1).

Verma S, Suman N, Verma P. Effect of electronic gadgets on cognitive milestones of children below 2 years of age. International Archives of Integrated Medicine. 2018;5(6):52–4.

Puspita T, Rismayanti T. The Effectiveness of Education Using WhatsApp About the Importance of Pregnancy Checks for Increasing the Knowledge of Pregnant Women in Karangsinom Village, Tirtamulya District, Karawang Regency in 2023. International Journal of Health and Pharmaceutical (IJHP). 2024;4(2):352–6.

Afrida BR, Aryani NP. Buku Ajar Asuhan Kebidanan pada Neonatus, Bayi, Balita, dan Anak Prasekolah. Penerbit NEM; 2022.

Siregar AO, Yaswinda Y. Impact of gadget use on cognitive development. In: 6th International Conference of Early Childhood Education (ICECE-6 2021). Atlantis Press; 2022. p. 168–72.

Fitriani R, Adawiyah R. Perkembangan Fisik Motorik Anak Usia Dini. Jurnal Golden Age. 2018;2(01):25.

Koordinasi K, Dan M, Melalui T. KEGIATAN MENGGUNITNG PADA ANAK KELOMBO B. 2021;1(1):789–93.

Nabila Zakiyyatul Af’idah. Literatur Review: Pengaruh Aplikasi Wordwall terhadap Minat Belajar pada Anak Usia Dini. Indonesian Journal of Early Childhood: Jurnal Dunia Anak Usia Dini. 2024;6(1):213–20.

Published
2026-01-26
How to Cite
1.
israiniI suriati, Reski Juliani, Yuli Setiawati, Patmahwati, Sri Rahayu Amri. Impact of Gadget Use on Infant and Toddler Motor and Cognitive Development in the Digital Era. woh [Internet]. 2026Jan.26 [cited 2026Jan.28];:27-8. Available from: https://jurnal.fkmumi.ac.id/index.php/woh/article/view/2716
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Articles