Letting young children stare at a computer screen often gives parents a much-needed break, but new research suggests the habit should be curbed, as early tablet use is associated with an increase in temper tantrums later in life.

Children who spent 75 minutes or more in front of a screen each day at the age of 3 1/2 were more likely to have outbursts of anger and frustration one year later, according to a study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

Moreover, the results suggest that there is a vicious cycle at work here: Young children who were more likely to express anger and frustration at age 4 1/2 are likely to spend even more time on the iPad a year later.

“Parents may be able to prevent a tantrum in the immediate future, but in the long term, repeated use of this type of strategy does not lead to children developing strong, internal emotion regulation skills,” study author Caroline Fitzpatrick, a professor of child development at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, told CBS Evening News.

The study’s findings are based on a survey of 315 parents of preschool-aged children living in Nova Scotia, Canada. Participants self-reported their children’s tablet use at age 3 1/2, a year later at age 4 1/2, and then at age 5 1/2 in 2022. Parents also answered standard questions to gauge their children’s temper tantrums.

However, some parents believe that a little time with the tablet can be a great help without causing any noticeable harm.

Atlanta mom Farrah Butler occasionally allows her 3-year-old son, Oliver, to play on an iPad, especially when she needs a break or wants to get something done, like cooking dinner.

“The screen is helpful when you’re trying to do daily tasks, when you want to play, and you just need a few minutes,” Butler said. She and her husband found that Oliver and his two siblings didn’t mind much when their phone screens were taken away. “They found other things to occupy their time,” she said.