Supernanny Jo Frost outraged over toddlers who can hold phones but can't use a pencil

Supernanny Jo Frost has warned parents of the dangers of screen time for toddlers after a speech expert claimed an increase in has left some toddlers with damaged eyesight and hindered social skills. The language therapist further claimed she has seen referrals where toddlers are able to hold a smartphone but cannot grasp a pencil correctly.

Jo rose to fame with the Channel 4 show Supernanny and, despite the show ending in 2008, has continued to be a respected figure in parenting advice, offering guidance to hundreds of parents, including through her Instagram account where she has more than 600,000 followers.

In her latest Instagram Story, Jo scolded parents after a speech and language therapist claimed she had seen a decline in children's communication skills over the last 10 years and more referrals due to increased screen time.

READ MORE: Four groups of PIP claimants most-likely to get ongoing payment award of £737

READ MORE: Motorists driving below 30mph through speed cameras could still be slapped with £1,000 fine

"Parents this information is fact," she posted to her followers, sharing a video posted by the Health Professionals for Safer Screens initiative. "You get to change this with your infant and toddler by not starting."

The video featured therapist Sandy Chapell's interview with BBC Radio York, in which Sandy explained: "It's (increased screen time) is having a huge impact on their development. I look primarily at speech and language and we are seeing a dramatic rise in speech and language delay - but it affects their social skills so they struggle to play co-operative with other children.

"They can't sit still or follow instructions in the classroom, their motor skills are becoming worse because they're just holding a screen so they're struggling to hold a pencil - their eyesight is being impacted, myopia is increasing amongst young children."

Sandy ends the clip by saying that "parents are unaware of how harmful screens are for young children" and more awareness needs to be raised to help combat the epidemic.

Last year, an Ofcom report estimated that "around a quarter of five to seven-year-olds now own a smartphone (24%) while three-quarters use a tablet (76%)." Health Professionals for Safer Screens suggest children aged 0-2 should not be on any screens at all and those aged 2-5 for a maximum of 30 minutes per day.