Parents, follow these techniques to prevent cell phone addiction in your kids

Now, you must be wondering what exactly makes kids addicted to their phones. Talking about the issue, Pankaj Kumar Singh, the Managing Director of Cambridge Montessori Preschool and Daycare, said that phones provide easy access to various entertainment and engaging content such as games, videos and social media.

“The instant gratification and constant stimulation provided by these platforms can be highly captivating for young minds. Moreover, children often imitate their parents’ phone usage habits, leading to increased dependency. Additionally, some games and apps are designed to be addictive, employing psychological tactics like rewards and notifications to keep children engaged for extended periods,” he added.

Cell phone addiction, however, is highly preventable. Parents play a pivotal role in preventing phone addiction in children. According to Singh, here are some techniques parents can use to decrease phone addiction in children:

Engage children in outdoor play, reading books together, participating in arts and crafts, or organising family activities. (Source: Freepik)

*Establish clear rules and boundaries regarding phone usage. Communicate and enforce these rules consistently to create a sense of structure.

*Set limits on screen time and specific usage hours, ensuring that children have a balanced approach to technology.

*Encourage alternative activities that promote physical, intellectual, and social development.

*Engage children in outdoor play, reading books together, participating in arts and crafts, or organising family activities. Creating a diverse range of experiences helps reduce reliance on phones for entertainment.

While excessive phone usage is harmful, these devices can be used constructively as well. Parents can leverage the benefits of phones in several ways.

“Parents can use educational apps and games that promote learning, problem-solving, and creativity. These apps can teach various subjects, enhance critical thinking skills, and introduce new concepts. Additionally, parents can utilise phones as tools for interactive learning,” said Singh.

Adding, he said, “Children can explore educational videos, audiobooks, virtual tours, or engage in language learning apps. It is crucial to select age-appropriate and high-quality content to ensure the constructive use of phones.”

Concluding, he noted that monitoring children’s phone usage and guiding them toward educational and enriching resources is critical to their productive use of phones.

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