Quality family time spent outdoors could be the antidote to problematic child behaviours associated with screen use. 

Deakin University researchers, led by PhD researcher Marina Torjinski and Dr Sharon Horwood from Deakin’s School of Psychology, are investigating whether time in natural environments has the potential to offset the screen-related problems parents often experience with their children. 

“We reviewed the existing research looking at children’s screen use and engagement with nature within the family context and found that positive family experiences around nature can help shift children’s intentions away from indoor screen-based activities.” Ms Torjinski said.

“On an individual level, where problematic screen use can lead to increases in stress, cognitive fatigue and behavioural problems in children, time spent in natural environments can reduce levels of physical and psychological stress, improve cognitive processes, mood, and help children regulate their emotional states and behaviours.”

Ms Torjinski said research also shows that shared family experiences in nature also promotes positive parent-child interactions which are important for bonding and overall family wellbeing.

“It appears that excessive screen use and time in nature influence the parent-child relationship in opposite ways, however more research is needed to understand this process,” she said. 

The research team are looking for parents willing to take part in the study by completing an international parent survey which looks at how children’s screen use and engagement with nature interact with family dynamics.

Dr Horwood said that parents are often concerned about the problems screen use can create in the home and worry about their child’s development and wellbeing.

“For many parents, navigating children’s screen time often leads to feelings of parental guilt and family conflict,” Dr Horwood said.

“This research will look at whether positive family experiences, such as time spent in nature, can help reduce the common experiences of family stress and conflict about screen time.”