The Impact of Smartphone Addiction on Social Skills and Play Behaviour Among Children

Smartphone addiction is a growing concern in today’s world. In recent years, the increase in the smartphone use has changed the way children interact with their environment and peers. Past studies have revealed that more than half of the children aged 3-10 are using smartphones for many hours on daily basis. Physical play is replaced by the screen time contributing to alarming concerns in context to their developmental outcomes. A mixed-methods approach, including quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with parents is used to assess how excessive smartphone use influences children's social interactions and engagement in play activities. The study has divided the population in three groups; early childhood (3-5 years), middle childhood (6-7 years), and later childhood (8-10 years). Findings indicate that there is a shift from traditional outdoor and group play to screen-based activities, making children with younger children (3-5 years) showing more evident isolation during play while older children (8-10 years) displaying decline in communication, empathy, and cooperation, particularly with excessive screen time. The role of parent’s attitudes and behaviours in shaping children's smartphone usage patterns is also significantly underlined. Recommendations include limited screen time, promoting outdoor play, and integrating digital literacy into educational programs. This paper intends to contribute to the growing body of literature on the effects of technology on child development and advocates for a balanced approach to smartphone use in early childhood.