Is your child addicted to mobile - Causes, hazards and tips to reduce mobile phone addiction.

MOBILE ADDICTION
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Mobile and video games have taken the place of playing outside and creativity in maximum children. If your child is not willing to sit in a train or restaurant without a mobile or iPad, there is a big problem. Nowadays, there is so much dependency on mobile phones that they can't stay away from mobile devices even for a few minutes. 
In short... It is the most important and difficult parenting issue of modern time. 
🔴 Is my child using a cell phone addicted?
 If you see the following daily routine in your child, he or she is definitely affected by mobile phones... 
🔹 Reaching out to mobile whenever there is nothing to do or bored
🔹 Using mobile phone while watching TV 
🔹 Cannot spend time alone without mobile 
🔹 Fail to cut down mobile phone in spite of request 
Remember... Your children are mobile addicted if you feel they are overusing. 
🔴 Problems associated with excessive mobile
All these have a lot of fun  in the short term but it is highly addictive and will definitely leave an unfavorable impact in the long term. 
❇️ Poor cognitive development 
     -------------------------------------------------
Maximum brain development occurs by 6 year and further binding by age 12 year. Major factor for brain development is playing with peers, learning new skills and creativity but due to increasing screen time- children are denied these brain development activities. 
Remember... Don't miss out on the golden period of brain development as it won't come twice. 
❇️ Poor academic performance 
      --------------------------------------------------
🔹 Poor concentration during the study
🔹 Feeling sleepy during class
🔹 Don't like giving mobile for studying 
🔹 If child is allowed to take mobile in school, they will waste time on mobile.
🔹 May use calculator for maths 
🔹 Can use Google for every solution rather than using my own logical thinking.
In short... Monitoring child performance is crucial to being a good parent. 
❇️ Sleep disturbance 
      ------------------------------
Children may stay up late playing games or watching their favorite show on YouTube will create sleep problems. Poor sleep causes poor concentration, fatigue, mental health issues and many more. Read my blog "Importance of Recharging " on this topic. 
In short... Sleep is best meditation 
❇️ Health problems 
     ------------------------------
In long term, children will suffer from variety of health problems like
🔹 Obesity due to lack of physical activity 
🔹 Eye sight problem 
🔹 Back and neck problem 
🔹 Tumours due to radiation 
In short... Health is wealth 
❇️ Mental health issues 
      -----------------------------------
They are more dangerous than physical health issues. 
🔹 Poor self confidence as they won't explore the world while playing with peers, poor academic performance and non participation in school activities. 
🔹 Loneliness as it adversely affects your kid relationship with their peers, family and responsibilities. 
🔹 Obsessive compulsive disorder as they constantly want mobile phone 
🔹 Depression as they will feel loneliness, poor performance in life, unable to overcome setbacks. 
🔹 Suicidal thoughts 
Remember... Mental health needs more sunlight, more quality time spent with family and friends. 
❇️ Inappropriate media
      ---------------------------------
Children may use YouTube or google for inappropriate media like watching porn videos 
In short... Social media addiction is like a small daily dose of daily poison.
🔴 Causes of mobile addiction
❇️ Pleasure 
     ---------------
Everyone including children wants pleasure and mobile phones or video games can provide entertainment of choice and it is easily available. 
Remember.. Short term pleasure, long term pain 
❇️ Lack of time 
      ---------------------
Parents are busy in their own world not because of workload. Maximum parents spend time on social media, party or social gathering so very often fail to save crucial time of their own which they could have spent with their children. Also, parents search for easy options like mobile to divert the curious mind of kids. 
Remember.. Children need your quality time, not quality mobile. 
❇️ Lead by example 
      ----------------------------
If parents are using the internet or social media continuously in front of the children, then children will follow in the footsteps of their parents. 
In short.... kids don't remember what you try to teach, they remember what you do. 
❇️ Nothing to do 
      -----------------------
If children are not provided entertainment during free time (Playing at ground or creativity ) then they will use electronic devices for entertainment. 
In short... Mobile has changed the life of child from an uncontrolled vehicle to immovable vehicle
🔴 How to solve mobile addiction? 
While the problem is raising world wide, follow simple things you can do it to keep your child away from
❇️ Lead by example 
     -----------------------------
Children learn 90% from parents & family members so if everyone in the family is spending quality time with each other rather than on social media - ultimately children will follow you. 
In short.... Children learn more from what you are than what you teach
❇️ Set family rules
      ---------------------------
If everyone agrees for few family rules like... 
🔹 No mobile phone during eating 
🔹 No mobile phone while watching TV 
🔹 No mobile phone in bed room. 
🔹 No mobile phone after 10.30pm
Set rules as per your family priorities and stick to it 
In short.. Rules are there to save you. 
❇️ Provide healthy alternative 
      ------------------------------------------------
You cannot ask your child to study the whole day or sit at home without any positive work. Actually they tend to switch to gadgets in their free time as a resort for entertainment & fun. Involve her in activities that require her to leave her mobile aside. If your child is having free time, use this free time for positive entertainment and development like... 
🔹 Playing at ground with other children 
🔹 If children are not playing in nearby area, send to sport academy. 
🔹 Develop a hobby like drawing or dancing. 
🔹 Spend quality time with children like going to garden or playing at home. 
🔹 Spend quality time with children like pretend play. Small kids enjoy pretend play and it helps in language & social development. 
🔹 Bring lot of comics and books like solving puzzles or even Maths MCQ.
Remember... Parenting is full time job 
❇️ Make them aware 
      ------------------------------
Educate your child regarding the bad effect of using mobile phones on physical, mental and social well-being. You can read this article or newspaper article or blog in front of the children. 
Remember... It is easier to build strong child than to repair broken men. 
❇️ Limit screen time 
      -----------------------------
Have a open discussion at home regarding using mobile phone for entertainment. You can limit screen time of all members to maximum half an hour a day. Of course if you are using for business purposes or your children are using for online education then that time is not included in half an hour of entertainment. Installing parental control app on your device will be great helpful for this purpose. A number of applications helps parent to keep a track of their child's phone usage. This can be in the form of alert that appear after your child crosses the time limit you mutually decided. The phone can automatically switch off if she doesn't put it down. You can even set a password to open the mobile. 
In short.. Parents need to set limits because children rarely do. 
❇️ Active supervision 
      --------------------------------
Monitor children intermittently while using mobile phones. Don't just monitor online activities or time, also monitor posture, brightness and screen distance from mobile. You can check google or YouTube history for misuse of the mobile. Also use this time for encouraging the child if the screen is used for education purposes or educating the hazard of online games. Remember... Parents without supervision are like birds without wings. 
❇️ Withhold privilege
       -----------------------------
If your child has school homework, playing time at ground or attend the dance class, make sure they do it before you provide the mobile phone. This should be clear to your child. We will provide you with a mobile for half an hour if you have completed all your desired routine tasks. 
In short... Mobile phone is not your privilege, it has to be earn
❇️  Do not keep it accessible 
       -------------------------------------------------
🔹 Keep mobile phone or gadgets in a such way that she cannot access easily. 
🔹 Use only 1 internet connection at home if you are using for entertainment 
▪️ If mother is working, either father or mother can keep the internet phone at working place so only 1 android phone is available at home. 
▪️ If mother is a housewife, she won't recharge her android phone with internet data. She can use father hot-spot for internet connection. 
In short.. Take action or face the consequences of mobile addiction 
❇️ Avoid mobile for learning 
      -----------------------------------------------
As maximum children enjoy learning on an Android phone or use a calculator for maths calculations or use Google for search. It decreases logical and critical thinking in children, indirectly actually you are slowly contributing to her gadget addiction. 
In short... Old way of learning is gold. 
❇️ Do not do everything on mobile 
      ------------------------------------------------
Mobile phones can perform multiple activities like TV, video, alarm, newspaper, camera, calculator. Try to use mobile for minimum things like calling, text messages and the internet. 
In short... More you avoid mobile, the less chances of addiction to mobile phones.
🙏🏻🙏🏻 If you like this blog, please share with other family members and friends 
Remember..... Gaining knowledge is first step to wisdom and sharing it is first step to humanity 

Dr Ashish Agrawal, Paediatrician and expert in child behavior, education and developmental problems.
Ph: 8888126037, 7057551985
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