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Occupational therapists urge more unstructured play, warn about fine-motor risks from early heavy device use
Summary
Holmdel OTs and a play-based educator told the panel that passive early screen exposure is associated in studies with higher risk of fine-motor delays and that boredom and nature-based play build cognitive flexibility and frustration tolerance.
Occupational therapists on the panel pointed to research associating high device use in very young children with increased risk of fine-motor delays and urged families to prioritize play that develops hands-on skills. "The more time that especially younger kids spend on screens, they're spending more time on screens and, therefore, they're spending less time on opportunities to develop fine motor skills through play," an OT said.
Panelists offered practical alternatives: lower the bar for nature (backyard snacks, short walks), tag outdoor time to existing routines, and practice tolerating boredom as a pathway to creativity and resilience. An outdoor-program founder described outdoor drop-in classes with nontraditional play equipment designed to practice problem-solving and cognitive flexibility.
