By Agency report 

A recent study has revealed a link between higher maternal stress, excessive screen time in early childhood, and increased behavioral problems in children.The report, titled “The Effect of Income on New Zealand Children’s Behaviour: The Influence of Maternal Stress and Children’s Screen Use”, drew from the Growing Up in New Zealand study and found that pre-school children who spent four or more hours a day on screens were more likely to exhibit behavioral issues, regardless of socio-economic status.
The study also highlighted that lower incomes contributed to heightened maternal stress, which in turn was linked to more behavioral challenges in children. 
Dr. Jaimie Monk, a research fellow at Motu Research, explained to Susie Ferguson on Saturday Morning, that the study examined how income affects children’s behavioral, social, and emotional development, noting the inseparable connection between income and stress.
The researchers focused on the impact of maternal stress within the first 1000 days of a child’s life. Findings showed that during periods of higher income, maternal stress levels decreased. Key factors affecting child development included housing stability and maternal stress, especially related to renting and frequent moves during pregnancy, which added further strain.
Central to the study’s findings was the importance of parent-child interactions. Dr. Monk emphasized that “serve and return interactions” — moments of back-and-forth engagement between parents and children — are critical for healthy brain development during early childhood. Stress negatively impacted these interactions, leading to behaviors like yelling, arguing, and reduced reading time together, while screen use also played a role.
When asked about the impact of screen time, Dr. Monk noted that small amounts of screen use, especially when it allows parents a short break, are not necessarily harmful. However, excessive screen time of four to seven hours per day could crowd out opportunities for healthier developmental activities.
While various factors contribute to the rise in screen time, Dr. Monk acknowledged the complexity of family dynamics, particularly in households facing structural challenges. She cautioned against rigid screen-time limits, recognizing that many families are dealing with multiple stressors.
The study underscores the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life, particularly in providing interventions and support for families to reduce stress. According to Dr. Monk, addressing maternal stress through social services could yield significant benefits for children’s behavioral development, especially during their preschool years.

By Lami Patrick

Parenting is often a journey filled with joy, but for Mrs Barbara Rose Believe,
mother to four-year-old Belicia, it has been a path marked with challenges, confusion and perseverance. On September 8, Belicia celebrated her fourth birthday, a milestone that holds deep significance for her mother as they navigate life with autism.

In an emotional recount of her experiences, Mrs. Believe shared that the discovery of Belicia’s condition came as a shock. “I had little to no knowledge about autism.” A friend had noticed the signs and when I realized the symptoms mirrored those described on online platforms, I was heartbroken. “It felt like a heavy blow,” she explained, describing her initial reaction.

The early signs of developmental delay were subtle but clear. Mrs Believe recalled how, as an infant, Belicia struggled to sit up without support, often needing pillows to prop her up. “People around me thought she was being lazy,” she recalled, emphasizing how isolating the journey can be for parents with special needs children. Over time, the signs grew more apparent. Walking came much later than expected, with Belicia taking her first steps only after turning one year and eight months.

Mrs. Believe’s relentless pursuit of answers led her to several hospitals, including a general hospital, where she encountered a disturbing lack of awareness about autism among medical professionals. “I had to explain to the doctors what autism was,” she said, recalling how one doctor dismissed her concerns, attributing them to a skewed mindset possibly influenced by movies about autism.

Despite the frustrations, she remained resolute, and with the help of a therapist, she began seeing some progress in her daughter’s development. However, therapy came at a steep financial cost. “Therapy is really expensive,” she lamented, explaining how her family had to cut down on other expenses to afford it. “My husband said even if it takes him having nothing, he would make sure she gets the help she needs.”

While therapy has helped, it has not been a smooth road. “She picks up some things and drops others,” Mrs Believe said, adding that while improvements are visible, the financial and emotional toll is significant.

The mother also criticized the lack of government support for children with special needs, highlighting the absence of proper assessment centers and informed healthcare workers. “It feels like special needs children are not government’s concern,” she said. In a country where many families still view developmental disabilities as spiritual afflictions, access to reliable information and services is sparse.

The family also faced challenges when trying to enroll Belicia in a school. Inclusive education, which is theoretically part of Nigeria’s educational policy, proved to be inaccessible in practice. The headteacher informed Mrs Believe that her child would only be accepted if she is not violent. “If inclusive education is a reality, trained teachers should be able to handle any child, violent or not,” she argued.

As she continues to fight for her daughter’s well-being, she hopes the Nigerian government will one day step in to provide more support for families raising children with autism and other special needs. Until then, parents like her are left to carry the burden alone, fighting to ensure that their children have the best chance at life.

Despite commitments to disability inclusion in Nigeria’s development agenda, government’s response remains inadequate. Data on special needs children is scarce, leaving policymakers ill-equipped to address the real scale of the issue. According to UNICEF, millions of children in Nigeria live with some form of disability, yet they remain largely invisible in national policy planning. The result is lack of appropriate healthcare services, inclusive education and social support structures.

In developed nations, parents of special needs children often receive tax credit, government aid and access to specialized schools equipped with occupational therapy and one-on-one support. In contrast, Nigerian parents, particularly mothers, are left to bear the brunt of caregiving with little to no assistance.