Today’s children need to have a healthy relationship with technology, as spending too much time in front of screens is a very common occurrence these days. Often, parents give their children tablets and smartphones to motivate them to eat and study. This can be damaging to the children’s mental and physical development and can hinder their natural and balanced growth. This is especially recommended for parents with young children who are very tech-savvy, but at the same time, it can get unhealthy for them to constantly depend on their digital devices to do their day-to-day activities.
The dangers of digital screen addiction:
Many psychologists and pediatricians are advising parents to balance the screen time of their kids, as it can be very damaging to their overall health. Children are increasingly becoming addicted to devices such as video games, television, smartphones, tablets, etc. Social media also takes up a lot of time for both children and teenagers today. These habits can negatively affect them in the long run and have adverse effects on the psyche of the children. It can increase the chances of anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies in youngsters. It can also lead to unnecessary weight gain or loss, and the lack of movement and exercise can be very harmful too.
Signs of digital screen addiction in children:
Here are some subtle and important signs that can represent addiction
- The child is never seen without a device
- The child becomes violent when denied screen time
- The child refuses to eat without a device in hand
- The child is more stressed when he is not with a phone or tablet
- Day to day functioning of the child is affected by too much screen time
However, it is very important for adults to also follow in the same footsteps and become good role models for their children as the kids don’t learn from orders but by imitation.
Best ways to help your kid with Digital Detox:
- Do a digital detox yourself: The parents need to show their kids what a good and balanced lifestyle looks like. Hence all the adults in the house should also follow the same protocol and indulge less on their phones especially while eating and having family time. Children learn from imitation instead of orders.
- Follow the no devices rule during specific times: Do not use devices when at a family dinner, other meals, before bedtime, etc. It is very important to regulate your as well as your children’s sleep schedule. The better the sleep, the better a kid’s mental and physical health.
- Indulge in a favorite hobby or activity: Start a good hobby for your kid such as swimming, dancing, playing sports, etc. This can boost the kid’s health and help them find joy in these fulfilling tasks more than the mobiles.
- Inculcate the habit of reading: Reading books can be very good for us, especially the kids. Developing their reading habits can help them learn new words, facts and knowledge. Reading can boost the mental and cognitive growth of the child and help them to stay away from screens.
- Encourage them to play outside: Outdoor games should be encouraged by the parents as it is a very crucial part of the child’s development. It also provides the appropriate amount of exercise and good social life.
Conclusion:
Going completely away from devices might not be possible for a child in this digital age, but the right amount of balance and routine should be inculcated to avoid addiction to screens and other physical and psychological problems. Try to be a good role model and have a digital detox yourself; this will help the child learn more easily and adapt to a healthy lifestyle. Being completely away from devices might not be possible for a child in this digital age, but the right amount of balance and routine should be inculcated to avoid addiction to screens and other physical and psychological problems. Try to be a good role model and have a digital detox yourself; this will help the child learn more easily and adapt to a healthy lifestyle.
By: Gursharan Kaur