A DIGITAL DETOX CAN SAVE YOUR FAMILY ‘Let me play one more game before I sleep mum!’, your child says for the 13425th time that week. It’s getting really exhausting for you and your partner to continue to battle your child at every angle, with any kind of device that is available to him. You and your partner are constantly at your wits end on parenting through the digital age, as one of you feels like a child should have access to devices and phrases such as ‘technology is the future!’ and ‘our child will fall back if they don’t know how to use it’. While the other partner, believes wholeheartedly in the theory of learning through experiences and real life interactions, and phrases that begin with ‘when I was younger we never had this..’ or ‘my parents never let me have tv time because of…’ are also very commonly discussed.
Anisa Ismail
determined as the average 2 year old needs 10-12 hours of sleep for important developmental functions. So we clearly have an issue. But what is the solution. The key word to survive this epidemic is BALANCE. With everything else in life, if not balanced well, we cannot survive it. Here are some tips (treatment) for curing your childs’ technology addiction. 1.
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With the fast growing rate of access to different types of technology devices for normal households, families are catapulted into a series of actions that we are yet to analyse the effects that it may have on their children. Some research conducted by Childwise in 2015 has shown that, children from the ages of 5-16 spend on average 6.5 hours screen time a day, with teenage boys spending the most time on screens – an average of 8 hours a day. This has been said to have significantly increased. So
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In a recent article punished by ‘Aha Parenting’, Dr Laura Markham says; “The earlier we introduce screens, the more it affects the child’s brain development and the more likely they will have trouble managing their addiction to screens and technology later in life.” This is a clear indication that a young child’s integral development is at a high risk and could trouble them severely, later in life.
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What is even more surprising is the different areas of a child, that screen addiction affects. For example, a recent survey found that sleep deprivation increased with age, from 57% among 2-4-year-olds to 65% among 8-11-year olds. This is
Set a good example - It all starts with the parents. If you’d like your child to spend less time on devices, then you have to show them how to do just this. Children learn better from actions rather than speech. Create time limits and a routine for the usage of these devices. Just like all else, it’s an activity that has to have boundarie. The recommended amount of time spent on devices is no more than 1 hour a day by Pediatricians from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Have a strong focus on “real world” fun activities. Children cannot ask for what they know nothing about. Have a strong emphasis in your household on things such as; outdoor games or sports, quality time with friends, travelling and exploring the world, and meeting new people. No technology in bedrooms- This should be a staple rule in every household. In order for a child to completely switch off and get a good night’s sleep, they need not be disturbed and have access to screens as they are dozing off. Create an open and honest space for your children to discuss any questions they may have pertaining to the online world. If they are experiencing cyber bullying, or have seen something online which is scary for them, they need to feel comfortable to discuss this with you, and so try your best to make them feel that you are not their enemy and only want the best for them.
All in all, your kids will most likely protest your interference with their unhealthy love for technology, but remember this is a normal reaction. Try your best to be consistent in your rule setting, be patient, calm and endearing. And most importantly, always reassure your love for your child especially when they are not accustomed to the new changes. And, finally, remember the key word - balance. This will clarify whether or not you and your family are on the right track.
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