Smartphones are the bad friends of children

Every one of us agrees with the fact about childhood is the sweetest phase of life. Children are powerful resources to bring joy and happiness in the family. Child-rearing practices are more challenging than before. Some of the lifestyle practices make it complicated even more. One among them is the usage of ‘Smartphones’.

Cell phones became part of our life. They emerged into the stage of ‘smartphones’ now. The first and last used object in a day is a smartphone. Smartphones never keep an individual free. As like other technological devices, Smartphones have their negative effects too. People got addicted and even forced into the state of anxiety and hopeless with its absence. These effects are commonly seen among children. Over usage of smartphones raised as an issue due to the lockdown effect resulted from a pandemic.

Sad truth is that; the number of child victims is sharply increasing. According to the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 95 per cent of children in India live in homes with a mobile phone and 73 per cent of Indian children are mobile phone users. Of these, 70 per cent fall under the age group of 7-10 years, while 76 per cent are in the age group of 11-14 years. 

Reasons for children to depend on smartphones

1.Easy availability: Smartphones are easily available in the families. At least one extra phone is available all the time other than the requirement.

2. Attracted by options: Utility of smartphones are not just limited to calls. It has all other attractions for children like games, puzzles and other entertainments.

3. The increasing number of nuclear families: Nuclear families are small in their size. Less number of people involved. Children get no one or few to interact and lead to remain in their phones.

4. Advanced lifestyle: Advanced like style practices forced the parents to concentrate more on financial resources. They need more time to spend on their responsibilities, even at home they are busy on calls and text messages. 

5. Addiction: Usage of smartphones increase the curiosity of the children to use it more and more. Because the options don’t have limits. Every single day, plenty of updates and new entertainment options get introduced. 

Overcoming measures for smartphone addiction in children

Parents need to be a role model for children. They should avoid the circumstances of holding the phones always.

• Make a strict policy on using the phone inside the home. Set a schedule for studying, outdoor play, phone usage etc. and implement it.
• Children should be using the phones while the parents or family members present nearby. Never encourage or give chances to use while they in the bedroom or bathroom or upstairs.
• Positive reinforcement requires when they limit the usage of smartphones.
• Never allow them to enter into the social media platform until they reach the required age.
• Continuous monitoring is needed. 
• Don’t take any drastic steps like severe physical or mental means of punishments. Explain to them about the reality and adverse effects and implement firm restrictions on usage.
• Children tend to compare other children whom they are connected. Parents should never encourage the habit of comparisons.

Younger generation attracted more towards materialized entertainments. Unfortunately, objects are given more importance than human interactions. The time has come to think about the basics of life than advancements. Children must get the chance to live more in the real world, not at the virtual. Try to be more responsible in the process of nurturing the leaders of tomorrow!