Impacto do tempo de exposição às telas no desenvolvimento motor infantil: revisão narrativa da literatura

Screen exposure time occupies a growing share of children's daily routine and tends to replace active play and movement experiences, with possible repercussions on motor development. Objective: To analyze, through a narrative literature review, the impacts of excessive screen use on the motor development of children aged 0 to 10 years and to discuss the contributions of physical therapy. Methodology: Narrative, descriptive and qualitative literature review, with searches conducted in the first half of 2026 in PubMed, SciELO, VHL, ScienceDirect, MDPI, Wiley and Google Scholar, among other databases. Full articles, systematic reviews and observational studies published between 2019 and 2026, in Portuguese or English, on screen use and motor skills, coordination, balance, physical activity or sedentary behavior in children aged 0 to 10 years were included. Results: Seven studies composed the main synthesis: two systematic reviews and five cross-sectional studies carried out in Indonesia, Chile, the United States and India. Excessive screen time was associated with lower locomotion and object control scores, a moderate negative correlation with fine motor skills and a higher chance of developmental delay, although some studies reported null associations or possible benefits for fine motor skills. Discussion: The displacement of active play is the main explanatory mechanism, modulated by device type, content and adult mediation. The predominance of cross-sectional studies with parental report limits causal inferences. Physical therapy contributes through early assessment, coordination and balance programs, and guidance for families and schools. Final considerations: Excessive screen use is associated with motor impairments in childhood, mainly due to the reduction of movement experiences. Longitudinal studies with objective measures and the inclusion of physical therapy in preventive strategies are recommended.