The discussion surrounding children and mobile devices has been prominently featured in recent news. A recent development grants school principals the authority to confiscate or prohibit mobile phones to minimize disruptions and enhance classroom behavior. Concurrently, a pair of mothers established a parenting community on WhatsApp aimed at reducing smartphone usage in children, attracting an impressive 5000 participants within the initial 10 days.
While preparing breakfast for my own children, aged 10 and 13, I came across this news article on my phone. I subsequently shared and analyzed it with fellow mothers on various WhatsApp groups. The irony of the situation dawned on me later. This week, parents like myself, who are concerned about their children’s phone usage yet find it challenging to detach from their own devices, were brought to attention.
Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, emphasized the importance of parents addressing their own phone habits before imposing restrictions on youngsters. During a session with the Commons education select committee regarding children and screen time, she urged parents to refrain from using phones at the dinner table and to acknowledge their own screen dependencies. She stressed the necessity for adults to engage in conversations about their technological addictions.
Research indicates that parents spend an average of over nine hours daily consuming screen media, with 20% fewer interactions with their children when phones are present at the table. Despite the concern over children’s screen time, parents paradoxically find themselves engrossed in their own devices extensively.
Tech ethics expert Tanya Goodin, author of The Teenage Guide to Digital Wellbeing, concurs with Dame de Souza’s observations. Goodin highlights the prevalence of children feeling neglected by adults due to excessive phone usage. She notes the discrepancy in parents advocating for healthy phone habits while failing to model the same behavior.
Goodin underscores the significance of parents setting a positive example by limiting phone use and engaging in hands-on activities with their children. Implementing family rules such as restricting phone use upon waking and during meals can help establish healthier tech boundaries within the household.
In essence, being mindful of one’s phone usage and demonstrating responsible tech behavior can positively influence children’s relationship with technology in the future.