About the influence of electronic devices on early development stages and children’s health in Dubrovnik

Professional meeting assembly with international collaboration “Influence of electronic devices on early development stages and health in children” was held on 16th of November 2019 in Dubrovnik, organized by Institute for public health Dubrovačko neretvanska county in collaboration with Dubrovnik’s kindergartens and association Dubrovnik healthy city, with more than 250 participants.

Director of Child and Youth Protection Center of Zagreb, prof. Gordana Buljan Flander, PhD, held an invited lecture on subject “Challenges of growing up in touchscreen generation”, with presentation of statistics from first national screen-time research conducted by Center and Brave phone in 2017. In her lecture, prof. Buljan Flander, PhD, has pointed out the connection between habitual use of modern technologies in children and parents, influence of early use of electronic screens on socio-emotional development in especially younger children, but also habits of use in elementary and high school age taking in consideration newest theoretical and practical directions in upbringing, work, and also in prevention of risky online behaviours. There were also shown preliminary results of national research project of the Center “Online social experiences and mental health in youth”.

On professional assembly, invited lectures were held by Ranko Rajovic, MD, PhD. on subject “Development of child’s brain – parental role and influence of exposure” and Srećko Gajović, MD, PhD., from Croatian institute for brain on subject “How to be healthy in digital society?” Matija Čale Mratović, MD, from Institute of public health Dubrovnik with Petra Kvartuč, psychologist, held lecture on subject “Mobile phone as a nanny – case study.”

On assembly, Lea Burić, psychologist and Severina Hađija, psychologist have presented results of research about habits of using electronic devices in children from kindergartens in Dubrovnik, and Petra Šolentić, psychologist has presented results of research about factors connected with time of usage of electronic gadgets in children from kindergarten Župa dubrovačka.

At the end of the meeting, participants have discussed about positive and negative influence of gadgets on early development, growing up and child’s health from different aspects in parental role, experts, but also institutions which participate in upbringing and education of children and youth.