Autism, Media and Emotion Regulation

Question: Can screens have an impact on the emotions of young children with autism? 

Answer: This is a great question! For young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), some areas of difficulty can include communication, learning, adapting to change, planning, impulse control, managing strong emotions and processing sensory input. Research suggests that children with ASD spend more time with media throughout childhood. In children with ASD, screen exposure often starts at a younger age and caregivers are less likely to watch along with them.  

Why is screen use higher in kids with autism? 

Children with ASD may prefer the sensory experience of screens, which are visually stimulating and predictable. Favorite video games or video sites may offer repetition of a child’s favorite restricted interests, like vehicles, anime, or certain characters. Parents of children with autism also say they use screen media more to keep their child calm and occupied during stressful times. Also, it may be easier to interact online, for example, chatting in video games, than in person for children with autism.  

The most important thing is making sure that higher screen use isn’t getting in the way of the activities children need to stay healthy, such as a good night’s sleep, time to complete schoolwork and homework, family time, and time with friends and in therapies. 

Does screen media affect kids with autism differently? 

An evidence brief suggests that children with autism may have more intense emotional and behavioral reactions to some forms of media, due to their natural difficulties with self-regulation In addition, digital media and video games can be fast-paced and attention-grabbing, which can make it harder for children to stop using. Therefore, when a parent or teacher tells a child with autism to stop using screens, they may resist or refuse by showing big emotions or aggressive behaviors.   

What are the positive sides of media for children with ASD? 

Media can serve as a valuable tool for children with ASD and their families by supporting self-expression. Many children with autism are great at music, computer coding, art, or humor. Therefore, parents and teachers should try to find apps and software that can support these strengths – instead of using only entertainment. Some children with ASD benefit from educational technology that helps them with expressive writing or communication. Watching media together with children, especially science or imaginative shows, can help parents connect with their child through conversation or thinking of new activities to do together.  

Recommendations  

Many parents with children with ASD have noticed that their child is sensitive to shows and movies. One method to help with this sensitivity is to name it - identify your child’s pain points or triggers and describe them to friends, family, and teachers, and then tame it - help your child manage the anxiety that comes with screens, start slow and let them lead the way and be prepared to try different strategies!   

In addition to naming and taming it, it is important to reduce negative content and watch along with your child (co-viewing). If you watch the shows and movies along with your child, you can decide whether you like how that content is affecting your child’s behavior. Role modeling positive media habits is also important to demonstrate what a healthy relationship with media looks like.  

It's important to set time limits so that your children’s screen use isn’t displacing other activities. It is reasonable to start with an hour or 2 of screen time after school, before or after dinner, but not right before bedtime. Some parents prefer to have more screen time on weekends, when their schedule is more relaxed, and less screen time on weekdays when their afternoons are full with activities, clubs, or therapies.  

Finally, it’s important to talk to your child’s doctor and teacher about the behaviors you are seeing; they can help arrange additional therapies to help teach your child emotion management skills, communication skills, and find alternate offline activities that your child might like. 

For more resources on apps, books, or movies for children with autism, check out these resources from Common Sense Media: 

• Apps for Kids on the Autism Spectrum 
• Books with Characters on the Autism Spectrum 
• Movies with Characters Who Have Learning and Attention Issues and Developmental Disabilities 

This question is related to previous questions we received below: 

• Screening and Selecting Appropriate Content 
• Early Childhood Screen Time, Brain Development, and Autism 

References 

• Common Sense Media. (2023, March 31). Helping your kid with autism manage their sensitivity to movies and shows.   
• Kuo, M. H., Orsmond, G. I., Coster, W. J., & Cohn, E. S. (2014). Media use among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Autism: the international journal of research and practice, 18(8), 914–923.   
• Lane, R., & Radesky, J. (2019). Digital Media and Autism Spectrum Disorders: Review of Evidence, Theoretical Concerns, and Opportunities for Intervention. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(5), 364.   
• Lillard, A. S., & Peterson, J. (2011). The immediate impact of different types of television on young children’s executive function. Pediatrics, 128(4), 644–649.  
• Slobodin, O., Heffler, K. F., & Davidovitch, M. (2019). Screen Media and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP, 40(4), 303–311.   

Age: 2-6 

Topics: Early childhood, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, sensory processing, emotions, emotional dysregulation, media use, media use in children with ASD 

Role: Educator