Screens dominate Ecuadorian children's holidays, sparking neurological concerns

As Ecuador's school holidays begin, parents face a daily battle over screen time. Children in the Sierra and Amazon regions are increasingly demanding phones before even eating breakfast, and parents often yield to the pressure. When parents later try to reclaim the devices, children react with disproportionate tantrums, which experts attribute not to misbehavior but to neurological responses.

During the school year, structured routines limit screen exposure. However, holidays remove this framework. With many parents still working, unsupervised free time makes digital devices the most accessible option. Neurologist Nicolay Astudillo explains that the absence of structure during vacations amplifies the deregulation of the reward system, further disrupts sleep, and diminishes opportunities for varied stimulation.

Prolonged screen use bombards a child's developing brain with rapid, constant stimulation. This overactivates visual and reward pathways, leading to a decrease in neural connections crucial for deep learning. Astudillo notes that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, the reward system's nucleus accumbens, and the dopaminergic pathways are particularly affected. The white matter, vital for language and attention, also suffers.

Before the holidays even began, screen time was already a concern. A 2025 study by Quito's Municipal Health Secretariat found that children aged 5 to 19 spent an average of five hours daily on recreational screens. Specialists predict this number escalates dramatically during vacation periods, posing a significant challenge for parents aiming to fill their children's free time with activities beyond digital consumption.

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During the school year, the structure of routines and schedules limits total screen time and allows for recovery periods. In vacations, the absence of structure facilitates prolonged and intensive use without interruptions, which amplifies the deregulation of the reward system, further alters sleep, and reduces opportunities for varied stimulation.