Restoring Attachment in Children with Early Screen Addiction

This study examines the restoration of attachment and social learning in children with early screen addiction. It focuses on the disruption of mirror neuron networks, which leads to difficulties in emotional regulation, social interaction, and attachment formation. The therapeutic approach designed to address these deficits includes a complete screen detox, autonomic nervous system rehabilitation, and parallel interventions for parents. The research sample consists of 32 children (aged 3–5 years) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their mothers. Initial assessments reveal deficits in social engagement, imitation, and attachment. The therapeutic program employs non-apparatus interventions based on social learning, sensorimotor integration, and autonomic regulation. Simultaneously, mothers participate in biofeedback therapy, as their emotional and autonomic balance significantly influences their children's recovery progress. Findings indicate that recovery occurs in stages. By the sixth week, children begin imitating therapists, and between the tenth and fourteenth weeks, they exhibit increased social interactions. By the sixteenth week, 21 children demonstrate restored attachment, while four show partial progress, with two maintaining unstable outcomes. The data underscore the pivotal role of maternal emotional regulation—mothers with better autonomic balance facilitate more rapid social recovery in their children. In the initial stages, children primarily mirror therapists’ behaviors due to their stable autonomic regulation before actively engaging with their mothers. This study confirms that early screen addiction is not irreversible. However, effective intervention requires a comprehensive approach that integrates child-focused therapy with family-based support. Successful therapeutic programs should combine psychophysiological rehabilitation, screen time reduction, and parental emotional stabilization to promote long-term social and emotional development in children. Keywords: Early Screen Addiction, Attachment, Mirror Neurons, Social Learning, Autonomic Balance