The ever-expanding network of technology has begun creeping into the budding curiosity of growing minds. A menace, mobile addiction, becoming more prevalent, particularly among children, can be understood as a prolonged and intense dependency on cell phones and the technological advancement it provides. According to a survey conducted by physicians in Jaipur during the pandemic and reported in the Times of India, 70.7% of students reported behavioral issues, 40% reported carelessness and interruption in daily routines while 17% suffered from reduced attention span and lack of concentration accompanied by a significant increase in anxiety, physical ailments, headaches, etc.

 Fortunately, the preventive and corrective measures to curb this issue begin at home. Rather than seeing the child as the antagonist, as a concerned adult, the first step starts with educating yourself to recognize important symptoms in your child. Do you see your child struggling to concentrate on homework and during classes? Or watch them get restless and anxious when away from their phones? Then, it is up to you to take measures at the right time to resolve this maladaptive behavior. Here are a few positive methods to guide your child.

Positive Parenting Strategies

  • Talk about the issues involved. While attempting to implicate the rules to reduce their screen time, it is crucial to educate them about the self-damaging signs exhibited by their unconscious addiction. Teach them to become aware of their bodily symptoms. In doing so, any underlying issues that promote mobile dependencies, such as loneliness or peer pressure, bullying, and major events at school or home can be acknowledged; creating a healing space for the child.
  • Be the inspiration. It is crucial to approach young minds with respect and acknowledge their capacity for learning. A democratic parenting style should involve a modeling method by displaying reduced cell phone usage and allocating increased time to talk to children and engage with them in outdoor activities. As theorized by Albert Bandura, children engage in learning behaviors by observing and imitating their parents. 
  • Replace punishment with reward. Discard the rebukes and punishments to opt for a more positive approach by rewarding the child with some play time or a plateful of the tastiest snack for limiting their usage or when they engage in favorable behaviors. Moreover, parents need to be cautious against using mobile phones as rewards from the earliest age to motivate academic or social behavior.
  • Provide more creative alternatives. Apart from academic pursuits and away from 6-inch screens, generate a stimulating environment by providing opportunities for creative activities such as martial or fine arts, performing arts, debate or art clubs, etc. 
  • Create mobile-free zones. Assign a commonplace at home where the child can be promoted to avoid any usage of phones and engage with the family, preferably in the dining area or the living room. This will help them reduce feelings of loneliness or anxiety while away from their gadgets. Insist on keeping phones away during bedtime as studies have repeatedly proven the disturbances caused to the biological/circadian rhythms due to screen light.
  • Monitor screen time and app usage. Allocate appropriate spaces that facilitate parental guidance. Monitor their screen time and information access. Be particularly mindful about creating healthy boundaries with adolescents to inculcate a sense of self-control and personal responsibility.
  • Get help. It is important to recognize the destructive behaviors and seek professional intervention. Particularly, symptoms of withdrawal such as aggression, increased irritability, rebellious tendencies, anxiety and sleeplessness, and development of tolerance where the child displays an increased need for mobile usage to satisfy themselves, should be considered as warning signs to engage in behavioral interventions and psychotherapy. Early help can elevate the child to a state of complete mental health and avoid any negative implications.

References 

Gangadharan N, Borle A L, Basu S (April 04, 2022) Mobile Phone Addiction as an Emerging Behavioral Form of Addiction Among Adolescents in India. Cureus 14(4): e23798. doi:10.7759/cureus.23798

Singh, A. (2022, February 8). Mobile addiction among kids is on the rise amidst pandemics, say experts. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/mobile-addiction-among-kids-on-rise-amidst-pandemic-say-experts/articleshow/89431452.cms

I. (2020, July 4). 65% children became device addictive during lockdown, reveals study. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/65-children-became-device-addictive-during-lockdown-reveals-study/articleshow/76784896.cms