Loud Sounds and Unpleasant Noise Are Toxic for Young Kids' Health and Learning
Children Witness Political Turmoil Unfolding amidst Public Debates on Social Media and Television among Romans.
At a time when political scandals are rife, heated debates, and talk shows fill the airwaves, children are exposed to unnecessary stress right in their own homes[1]. Recent research by ParentEd reveals that constant noise, largely caused by adults, agitates young ones. This issue escalates when kids aged 8-12 spend almost 6 hours daily on phones and tablets, and televisions are perpetually running, even when no one is watching them.
This chaotic auditory environment, combined with the clamor from household appliances, affects children's development in several ways, even before they reach their teenage years. While parents engage in long discussions or immerse themselves in graphic news, children cannot focus on learning, playing, or sleeping peacefully. In fact, researchers show that children exposed to two hours of television daily have six times greater chances of suffering from language development delays[1].
Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, a leading child development expert in the United States, warns that experiences can actually transform the physical structure of a child's brain. Spending hours in front of flashing screens and watching volatile politics unfold has potential effects on kids' neurons. Nearly 50% of parents surveyed stated they observed anxiety and concerns in their children related to the turmoil presented on the media[3].
Hearing pollution indoors and outdoors affects children more than adults, as they are still developing and have limited control over filtering information. The noise can harm their growth in various aspects, such as:
- Learning: Prolonged exposure to loud noise affects a child's ability to concentrate at school, hurts memory retention and leads to poor test performance.
- Play: A television running in the background diverts children's focus from their toys.
- Sleep: They wake up frequently during the night, stressed and fatigued, even if they don't realize it.
- Stress: Constant exposure to noise leads to heightened stress levels in children.
Besides their screen time, children also encounter issues when devices are the only sources of entertainment. Children aged 8-12 spend around 5.5 hours daily engaging with electronic gadgets. Research conducted in 2024 shows that two hours of daily screen time for children aged 12-24 months increases the risk of language development delays by a factor of six[3].
Specialists recommend turning off televisions when no one is watching, limiting screens, and creating "quiet zones" in the home. Dr. Daniel Siegel also proposes applying the R.A.I.N method to help children manage anxiety: Recognize, Accept, Investigate, and Not-Identify with your anxiety while defining who you are. Dr. Siegel plans to visit Bucharest on October 4-5, 2025, for a conference at ParentEd Fest 2025.
The ParentEd Fest 2025, a significant parenting event in Romania, will occur on October 4-5, 2025, in Bucharest. World-class experts like Dr. Laura Markham, Dr. Shefali, Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Maggie Dent, Tamara Neufeld Strijack, and Dr. Daniel Siegel will join the conference, sharing insights on raising and caring for children. For more information about the event and purchasing tickets, visit IaBilet.ro.
ParentEd Fest 2025 will be organized with the support of sponsors such as Lidl România - Strategic Partner, Sanador - Healthcare Partner, ThedaMar, Catena, Raiffeisen Bank, Activ, English Kids Academy, Maison Dadoo. The event is also backed by Innovation Partner - Alfa Foundation, Media partners like Zyx Books, Pagina de Psihologie, Psychologies, Ringier România, and Matca Social Club, Destiny Park, International British School of Bucharest, CyberJump, Genesis College, KinetoBebe, Museum of Senses, Football Museum, Basme cu Cai, Ograda Bunicilor, Acvatic Bebe Club, Edenland, Bob Coffee Lab, Curtea Veche Publishing, Editura Trei, Editura Univers, Editura Herald, Editura For You.
[1] How Loud Noise Hurts Children
[2] Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
[3] Children's TV Habits and Language Development
[4] Screen Time Recommendations for Children
[5] Integerate Neuroscience with Psychology
This is a Partner Content.
- The chaotic auditory environment, combined with the clamor from household appliances, can negatively impact a child's mental health and learning, as seen in the research by ParentEd.
- Prolonged exposure to loud noise not only affects a child's ability to focus on learning but alsoimpacts their play, sleep, and stress levels.
- Incorporating health-and-wellness practices, such as creating quiet zones and applying the R.A.I.N method, can help children manage anxiety and improve their overall development.
