Brazil study links excess screen time to reduced creativity in children's play
On World Play Day (May 28), a study by occupational therapist Amanda Sposito of the University of São Paulo examined 14 Brazilian children and found that excessive use of smartphones and tablets diminishes their ability to invent games and play creatively. The research showed that children increasingly depend on adults to suggest activities and revert to screens when bored, creating a cycle that curtails imagination.
The World Health Organization and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics recommend age‑specific limits on screen exposure, warning that overuse can affect cognition, emotional health, sleep, vision and posture. Parents such as retailer Edilaine Ferreira are restricting their children to one‑and‑a‑half to two hours daily and using parental‑control apps. Programs like the Gaming Park project in Rio de Janeiro’s Rocinha favela aim to channel digital interest into structured, socially beneficial gaming experiences.
The findings highlight growing concerns about digital saturation in childhood development across Brazil.