Background: The modernization of technology today has raised concerns among parents and health professionals about its probable impact on children's sleep, vision, behavior, and school performance.

Aim: This study explores the effects of digital screen use on children's health and behavior, focusing on screen time duration, parental screen use, and supervision. It will examine key risk factors and correlations.

Methods: A descriptive study design was used to explore the impacts of digital screen usage on children's health and behavior. 580 children aged 1-12 years from Duhok city included. The data was collected through online questionnaires conducted by parents addressing demographic data, screen time, and physical and behavioral issues. SPSS 27 was used to analyze the variables and p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: This study involved 580 children, with most aged 1-3 years (41.6%) and 59.7% male. Phone devices were the most commonly used (39.0%), and 38.8% of children owned a digital device. Moderate parental control over screen time was reported by 59.5% of parents, with 46.4% having secondary or institute education.

Post-device use, 51% of parents observed no cognitive change, while 27.6% noted worsening cognition and 41.2% reported increased nervousness. 45.9% of parents supervised screen time, but supervision did not significantly affect sleep disturbances (39.1% vs. 33.1%, p=0.135). However, eye problems were significantly higher in unsupervised children (76.4% vs. 66.9%, p=0.009).

Younger parents (25-35 years) were more likely to monitor screen time (58.6%) than older parents (>36 years, 23.3%). Regression analysis confirmed that parents' screen time strongly predicts children's screen time (B=0.155, p<0.001), emphasizing the impact of parental behavior on children's screen habits and health.

This study highlights the strong influence of parental screen time on children's digital habits and health. While parental supervision does not significantly reduce sleep disturbances, it is associated with fewer eye problems. Younger parents are more likely to monitor screen time, emphasizing the role of parental involvement. These findings underscore the need for evidence-based guidelines and increased awareness to promote healthier screen habits and overall child well-being.