Parents of school going children are going through a challenging post-Covid scenario. Before the advent of Covid 19, they succeeded in keeping their children away from smartphones. But, ever since classes began to be conducted online, they were forced to let their children use mobile phones and laptops. These gadgets became essentials just as the text books. Naturally, students got acquainted with smartphones and laptops. As a consequence, now they are indispensable in their life.
Many parents are now worried, thinking about how to save their children from smartphone addiction and laptop addiction. But, there is another side to this problem as well:
Even though children were restricted from using smartphones before Covid 19, parents did not put a curb on their own smartphone use. Children grew up watching their parents using smartphones and laptops. Sometimes, using these gadgets might be a part of their work. Nevertheless, most parents take mobile phones to their bedrooms. Children have watched their parents talking over the smartphones to their relatives or friends in bed. Occasionally, they might have invited their children to take part in the video calls. These frequent calls by parents, the videos they watch, their social media relations etc have made a big impact on their children. As a result, they wanted to indulge in these things enjoyed by their parents. In fact, they had started to admire these gadgets. Only that they had restrictions to use them earlier.
But, with the advent of the pandemic and the consequent online classes, the children were freed of their restrictions. They were allowed to access smartphones and computers even without asking. Men are prone to break rules. Likewise, when there is a restriction, one will be tempted to break it. Now, even in a situation when the online classes are stopped, parents are unable to rebuke their children, who are frequenting on smartphones.
What should the parents do to put a curb on children’s smartphone addiction? The first thing they need to do is to reduce the use of smartphones in their lives. Never encourage your children to join you in watching videos or playing games on the smartphones. If you do so, your children would find them entertaining and will be gradually attracted towards such things. At the same time, you should not hesitate to show them informative and value-based programs on the smartphone that are essential for them to know. Parents should discern what must be shown and what must not be.
Convince your children that you are using smartphones and laptops as a part of your work and to maintain your relationships. Let them understand that these gadgets are not just for entertainment.
Parents should realize that when children spend more time on these gadgets, it will affect their minds. Psychologists say that parents are to be blamed if their children get addicted to smartphones. Many mothers give smartphones into the hands of their little children to play with it like a toy. This habit will develop in children as they grow and they will become smartphone addicts. There is no point in blaming children then.
Let parents evaluate themselves before blaming their children. How am I using my smartphone? How many hours a day am I using it? For what purpose am I using my smartphone? Have I given my smartphone to my children as a toy when they were tiny or encouraged them to play games on them?
If parents wisely intervene in the matters of their children and show them good examples, the children will be able to tackle their smartphone addiction. Otherwise, smartphones will rule over our children.
