Do Internet addiction, phone addiction, or simply technology addiction of your child worry you? Yes, nowadays it is a common problem faced by most parents. A lot of parents express their worries that their children are mobile addicted.
Though there is technically no such thing as internet or phone addiction, if your child raises it to the level of a disorder, then it is addiction. Some parents complain that they see addict-like behavior in their child, such as kids getting angry if you stop them from using screens, anxiety, and waiting for the time when they will get back online.
These signs are alarming. If you experience such behavioral disorders in your child, try to engage themselves in some pleasurable activities and extra-curricular activities that they like to do, as suggested by the Gurukul World School, the best school in Mohali.
What Are Your Kids Doing Online: Is It Making a Mental Disorder?
The amount of time your child is spending on screens such as mobile phones and other devices is the measure of whether they are using it correctly or not, whether your child is addicted to some age-appropriate activities. It becomes rather crucial when your child is growing up and entering adolescence. For instance, in this phase, texting and social media sites become the vital medium for your child to connect with their friends, share important information, and share notes.
But at the same time, it opens up a door for your child to communicate with the whole world and be validated. According to the report 2016 by Common Sense Media, “What looks like excessive use and distraction reflects new ways of maintaining peer relations and engaging in relevant communities.” When you see that your child is unhealthily focusing on video games social media sites and isolating them from society, it leads to crucial mental health problems.
Again, too much attraction towards screens, especially in video games, can be caused by the depression of your child. As a parent, you must find out the leading cause why your child is attracted to the digital world and then find the solution accordingly.
How to Stop Your Child Internet Addiction?
Parents should be alert for potential negative fallout from screen use, such as games and several apps designed to keep the child engaged as much as possible. It becomes pretty tricky for the students to practice self-control while scrolling. A recent study shows that kids ages 8 to 18 spend on average 44.5 hours per week in front of screens. Yes, this is alarming. But how to stop them, let’s find out:
- Address the problem and reason behind the excessive use of screens.
- Show your care and love to your child.
- You can set reasonable rules and boundaries.
So, there is no denying that Internet addiction among children is a growing concern, but make sure you set a limitation for your child to be online. In addition, you can build a friendly relationship with your child so that they can easily share their problem with you; you can try to encourage your child in some social and make new friends with whom they can spend quality time. Gurukul World School, one of the top schools in Mohali, also suggests that parents do the same.
