Technological advancements have brought limitless benefits in diverse sectors including medical science, communication, infrastructure, education, etc. In this era, boundless access to technology is also affecting children. Many kids are getting addicted to excessive screen time. Let’s discuss the implications of digital addiction on kids. We will also discuss how to beat internet addiction in children.
Is Technology Addiction a Real Threat for Children?
Technology advances and changes at the same rate as children. It is only normal for a parent to be concerned about what their children are experiencing as a result of their continual exposure to devices. According to research, the physical structure of the brain changes as a result of repeated encounters. However, it is the child’s interpretation of the experiences that produce this blueprint for brain growth, not the experiences themselves.
Nerve impulses are fired in the brain every time a youngster goes through an experience. These brain pathways are repeatedly activated as a result of repeated encounters. The stronger neural connections get the more frequently they are used. As a result, a youngster who watches TV or plays video games on a regular basis will have a brain that is physically different from a child who does not. Similarly, parts of the brain that are not used frequently can get rusty. When neuronal connections are not used on a regular basis, they gradually stop working.
The internet provides an escape for children and teenagers to avoid unpleasant feelings or situations for which they intentionally spend more time on screen. They let go of sleep in order to spend time online. They are also found to isolate themselves from family and friends in order to escape into the comfortable online environment that they have sculpted and have the power to more or less control.
Children with a lack of rewarding or caring interactions, as well as inadequate social and coping skills, are more likely to engage in improper or excessive online behavior. They turn to invisible strangers in online chat rooms for the attention and camaraderie they lack in their real-life because they feel alone, alienated, and may have difficulty making new friends.
They may come from homes where there are serious problems, or they may be bullied or have difficulty socializing in school and extracurricular activities, so they use the internet to cope with their problems. They learn to instant message buddies instead of developing face-to-face interactions, which might have an impact on how they relate to their peers.
7 Steps to Conquer Internet Addiction in Kids
Let’s take a look at 7 ways to control children’s digital addiction.
Setting limits on screen time
Limiting screen use, both in terms of content and duration, can be a great safeguard for youngsters. Concerned parents should set severe boundaries on when and how often their children can be online to ensure that they do not spend too much of their day staring at screens and that they do not stay up late playing games, watching movies, or otherwise engrossed in the digital world.
Many devices provide parental-control options that enable a certain amount of internet hours per day or allow parents to select the daily periods when the internet can be used, which can help.
Talking to children
Unless one speaks with their children, they will have no idea what their parents’ expectations are — and in the case of parent-child communication, it is always better to lean on the side of too much talking.
Even if the children are too young to be interested in the internet, one can begin the discussion by stating the importance of following rules and staying inside boundaries. If they are already online experts, have a discussion about what they appreciate and do not like about it.
Children cannot be expected to control and limit their time spent in front of screens because they are so captivating. It is up to the parents to keep an eye on their actions and set fair boundaries based on the circumstances.
Listening to children
Communication must be a two-way exchange of information in order to be effective. And one must create an environment in which the children feel comfortable opening up to the parents in order to monitor what they are doing, enjoying, worrying about, or otherwise pondering.
Communication is not about having a formal discourse when it comes to curbing excessive digital activity or steering the children in a better path in their surfing — it is about initiating a conversation before there is an issue and continuing to listen.
Enjoying other activities
One can substitute exciting activities like painting, reading, signing, and playing instruments for screen time. Indoor-outdoor games, physical activities, and mental teasers are all possible kid-friendly activities.
One should never use technology to look after the children. When their parents sit with them and talk about the shows or online information they are watching, kids are more likely to benefit from limited screen time.
No screen in the bedroom
The blue light emitted by today’s screens can cause the brain to become more active. This issue can delay proper sleep and alter the kids’ sleep patterns if they utilize them right before bedtime.
Parents should turn off their children’s electronic devices an hour before sleep if they do not want to jeopardize their mental, physical, and social well-being. Children who use their phones, televisions, computers, or any other screen within an hour of going to bed can get jet lag-like symptoms. It makes it more difficult for them to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed.
Changing the Wi-Fi password
To ensure that children do not access the internet in violation of the preceding ground rules, parents can change their home’s Wi-Fi password and then ask their children to bring their devices to them for password entry when they want to go online. Parents can share the Wi-Fi password with their children or save it on their children’s devices if healthy internet-use patterns and trust have been established, and then change the password if the need arises.
Monitoring their online activity
One has to make sure their internet activities are done in an area where they can be seen, such as a desk in the living room. Allowing the children to spend time on the internet behind closed doors is not a good idea. Set daily limitations on how much screen time is permissible — and make sure these restrictions are not surpassed. Remove all televisions and video gaming systems from the kids’ rooms.
Limit the children’s gaming to times and places where they can be seen, just as one should do with their internet use. One should be aware of their children’s screen names and passwords. Examine their social media pages, such as Instagram or Facebook, if they are active. Find out how to examine the computer’s browsing history to see what the kids have been up to.
Children are the future of humanity. At any cost, we have to protect the kids from the adverse impact of technology. Technology will bring many more advanced devices offering exciting features every new day. It is hard even for adults to control the attractions of the internet. Kids can be allowed to spend time on screens for a limited time each day. But the parents should be careful to save their children from getting addicted to technology. In this article, we have discussed how parents can address their childrens’ digital addiction. Hope it helps!
Source: United News of Bangladesh