Kids are spending more time playing video games than ever before and parents are worried about the increasing screen time of their children. Here we take a look at possible solutions to get kids to spend more time away from gadgets.
While most parents would love to get their kid off mobile phones/tablets, the fact is that it’s easier said than done. Even I tried very hard to get them to ditch the screens but it hasn’t worked till now.
While my elder one (9 years old) likes to play games on the mobile phone, surprisingly my younger one (who is 4 years old) likes to watch Youtube videos featuring kids who play with toys; he started with games but somehow he landed upon Youtube channels that feature kids indulge in various activities using a wide range of exciting toys.
Nevertheless, they were still spending a lot of time in front of screens.
So right now I have set them a limit of 2 hour screen time every day (the goal is eventually to reduce it further.
Video game addiction among growing kids is a big concern; there are many kids who spend a few hours every day on their mobile phones/laptops playing various games.
The Covid-19 pandemic also caused kids to spend more time with gadgets as there was a curb on outdoor activities. Also, several schools were conducting online lessons in order to continue with the childrens education making the children spend even more time in front of the screen.
Various studies suggest that onscreen game addiction can cause mental health issues such as depression, insomnia and in worst cases it can also lead to substance abuse as a result of compulsive disorder.
Addiction to video games can trigger the want of drugs and ultimately lead to deterioration of health.
Constant staring at a screen for hours can also cause strain on the eyes. Playing on-screen game continuously for hours can lead to migraines and headaches.
As a result, it is important for parents and educators to make children spend more time playing physical games, sports and spending more time outdoors for improvement in overall health.
Funtoyworld is a family-managed website with me (Ben), and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing toys. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical suggestions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.
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