The Effect of Screen Time Duration on Fine Motor Development in Children Aged 2–5 Years in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

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Background: Preschool children in Indonesia continue to experience developmental challenges. National data indicate that fewer than half of children aged 1–59 months receive standardized developmental monitoring. At the same time, increased access to digital devices has made screen time a routine part of early childhood, potentially reducing opportunities for physical play that are essential for fine motor skill development.

Objective: To examine the association between screen-time duration and fine motor development among children aged 2–5 years in the service areas of the Sikumana and Tarus Community Health Centers.

Methods: This study employed an analytic correlational design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 55 children aged 24–60 months were recruited using consecutive sampling. Screen-time duration was assessed using a questionnaire adapted from the SMALL-Q, while fine motor development was evaluated using age-specific fine motor items from the Developmental Pre-Screening Questionnaire (Kuesioner Pra Skrining Perkembangan/KPSP). Data were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation test.

Results: The results showed that 54.5% of children were exposed to excessive screen time (>60 minutes/day), and 63.6% demonstrated fine motor development that was not appropriate for their age. A significant moderate negative correlation was observed between screen-time duration and fine motor development (r = −0.449; p = 0.001). Children with excessive screen time had a substantially lower proportion of age-appropriate fine motor development (16.7%) compared with children who adhered to recommended screen-time limits (60%).

Conclusion: There is a significant and moderately strong association between screen-time duration and fine motor development among children aged 2–5 years. Parental education on limiting screen time and ensuring active supervision is crucial to support optimal fine motor development in early childhood.