Smartphone Tips: In today’s time, children spending excessive time on smartphones and screens has become a big concern for most parents. According to a recent report, a large number of parents believe that watching too much screen is affecting the mental health of children. Especially concerns regarding social media, internet related security and continuous use of gadgets have increased rapidly.
Children getting entangled in screens and missing out on real life.
Health and science journalist Catherine Price believes that when children are constantly immersed in screens, they get away from real life experiences. Neither do they get a chance to learn essential real-world skills nor are they able to learn to interact with people face-to-face. This is the reason why it has become necessary to think seriously about screen time.
Research based advice to give right direction to children
Katherine Price has worked with Jonathan Haidt, author of ‘The Anxious Generation’, on the impact of screens and social media on children and teens. His book The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World provides many practical tips for parents that can be applied not only in America but around the world.
Be an example yourself, only then children will understand
The most effective way to change children’s habits is for parents to behave the way they want their children to behave. If you yourself spend more time on phone or laptop then it becomes difficult to distance yourself from children.
Experts say that parents should ask themselves what habits they are showing to their children. If you want, give children the right to interrupt you if you use the screen excessively.
Instead of having a separate phone for each child, adopt a family phone
Instead of giving children their own smartphones at an early age, it may be a better option for the family to have one or two phones. This makes children understand that the phone is a necessity and not something to be used all the time.
Developing a habit of talking to friends and relatives through landline or ordinary phone at home improves the communication skills of children. For after-school activities or outings, a simple option like a flip phone can be sufficient and can be returned when needed.
Let yourself be responsible for your smartphone
Experts believe that the longer the delay in giving smartphones to children, the better. If you want to avoid this even with age, then you can ask your children to buy their own smartphone. When children know that they have to pay for the phone through their own hard work, they themselves think twice about this decision. This also helps them learn important life skills like hard work, patience and working towards goals.
Balance is the real solution
It is not possible to completely remove smartphones and technology, but it is important to set proper limits. If parents make rules wisely and follow them themselves, then children’s attention can return to studies, sports and the real world.
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