Taking Back control

RESTORING THE BALANCE TO FAMILY LIFE, IN AN AGE WHERE ELECTRONIC DEVICES RULE

Anisa Ismail

The Source Family sat down

with Digital Detox Expert, Anisa Ismail, who is the founder of ‘The Unplugged Initiative’ - a social impact startup focused on promoting digital awareness in the community, to discuss ways we as a society can regulate this onset of digital addiction.

Everywhere we go these days, it’s not hard to notice how much technology impacts our lives. Phones, tablets, laptops are everywhere. COVID-19 amplified the way we use our devices and not only did it make it easier for people to stay connected to each other, it also made way for reliance on devices to reach an all time high. It has been reported that children are spending up to 7 hours a day on devices and adults are spending up to 12 hours a day on their devices. This is the new normal.

A scene all too common today - we need to start limiting screen time for the wellbeing of the family unit

What made you start ‘The Unplugged Initiative?’

“It was my background in teaching that first opened my eyes up to the issue at hand. During my last teaching year in 2017, I was finding it hard to get the attention of the children in my class. The children I was teaching were only 4 years old, however most of them were often unfocused, groggy, tired and moody. This wasn’t usual behaviour for young children and when I’d ask their parents, they’d mostly say it was due to their child being up late watching videos or playing games on a device, and would be followed by their request for advice/help as it was a recurring issue in their household. Thus, KidzUnplugged was born which then naturally transitioned into The Unplugged Initiative.”

In your opinion has COVID made the situation worse?

“Oh absolutely! It has become overwhelmingly apparent that we have a socially acceptable addiction occurring amongst us, affecting the youngest of the generation more rapidly than we think. You and I, for example, were able to enjoy a childhood filled with play, and adventure. That is not the case for today’s children, and this in itself is alarming. Family dynamics have completely changed. Historically, culture and the enrichment of moral values was learned through daily interaction within the family. With families spending less and less time together our traditional value systems are decreasing at an alarming rate.

How does one navigate through this issue, which is most definitely a global one now?

“ This is just the beginning. Our devices are so integrated into our everyday lives that eliminating them is just not possible. I never recommend that my clients completely remove their devices because that would not be practical. The key is to learn to live with technology, using the best practices available. It’s like being on a diet or starting a healthier eating plan. We can’t rid the world of fats, and carbs (as much as some of us would love that), instead, we learn to portion them and consume them in a way that is beneficial. Technology is the same”

What tips, or advice would you give to parents who are reading this, and can’t seem to balance the way their children use their devices?

“Children model behaviour. So, when they are using a phone or tablet, they will take their cue from the way the adults around them are using those same devices. It’s not what you say, but rather what you do. As a parent, how much time are you spending on your phone or laptop? What activities (apart from sleeping and eating) are you partaking in when you are away from your device? All of these factors are influencing your child’s behaviour. Watching you will determine how they act. The other thing to remember is that it is important to determine a routine for device usage.

How much time do you need to spend on a device, as opposed to how much time you’re wasting away scrolling through social media pages. Setting reasonable limits, allows you to set rules the whole family can adhere to. Remember, this isn’t a kids vs parents situation, it’s for the greater good of the entire family unit. Lastly, I would say, do more things as a family that will allow you to spend time away from technology. This could be in the form of cooking together, playing a game or even just lounging on the sofa and reading a story together. Not every moment needs to be filmed, pictured or documented. Moments need to be lived, and felt.”

If there is one key takeaway from this pandemic and the way we use our devices, what would that be?

“It is evident now more than ever, that we have the power to change our habits and the way we do things. The world came to a stop this year, and that wasn’t by accident. That was a sign. The way we were moving was too overwhelmingly fast. Our devices have enabled us to tap into the whole world with the push of a button, and as amazing as that is, it is also in the way of what’s right in front of us and of what we are experiencing. So the key takeaway would be to indulge in the moments with the people around you. Cherish what you have and experience as much of each other in a way devices can’t reach. Remember, balance is key. Too much of anything will tip the scale, so use the time you have with your devices wisely and the time you spend away from them, even more usefully”

Food for thought - How much time are you spending on your devices? And how much of that time is of benefit to you and your families?

For more information: Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/unpluggedinitiative/?hl=en Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/unpluggedinitiative/posts/ Website http://unpluggedinitiative.com