With media focus on rising children's digital addiction, parents' internet and digital addiction is the elephant in the room that few are noticing and discussing. Somewhat belatedly, there is growing awareness that the root problem may well be the reality that parents themselves are spending long hours online for work, entertainment and socialisation. A growing body of research indicates that it's parents' online addiction that's fuelling children's digital dependence and adversely impacting the mental and emotional well-being of teens in particular.
A recent (2021) Commonsense Media study found that parents who reported problematic or addictive use of technology "checking phones often, feeling lost without them or turning to mobile phones when they are lonely" also reported that their relationships with their children were being "interrupted". Often, these interruptions prompted aggressive child behaviour and "crying spells". Similarly, another study published in the journal Paediatrics (2019) highlights that children whose parents spend more than two hours per day viewing digital screens are more likely to experience behavioural problems, such as hyperactivity and lack of concentration.
A more recent study (2022) led by Dr. Raian Ali, professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar and visiting professor, Bournemouth University, UK, found that adolescents are more likely to be internet addictive if their parents are addicted to the worldwide web. "Parents' behavioural correction is often part of the solution when it comes to their children's technology addiction. We explored whether there was any correlation between the intensity of internet addiction of parents and their children. The results showed a direct connection: the more addicted the parents, the stronger were their children's compulsions. Setting an example is a powerful form of parenting. The way parents use technology is no exception," says Dr. Ali. (see box p.12)
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2023 من ParentsWorld India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 2023 من ParentsWorld India.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
How To Safely Introduce Children To Bad News & Current Affairs
While much attention is drawn to the detrimental impact of violent video games on children’s developing brains, there has been relatively little discussion regarding the negative effects of news and current affairs to which children are exposed.
Creative PARENTING Help your child make friends easily
Your child may be a great chatterbox at home, but may well be hesitant and awkward in a new school, neighbourhood or city.
Helping with homework
Homework hour can be demanding with one child. And more demanding if you have children.
Sweet smell of success in FLORICULTURE
With the domestic demand for flowers growing at 25 percent annually and offshore demand rising as fast, there’s a great need for qualified individuals in this high potential agri-industry
SAFEGUARDING SUMMER: 5 VITAL CHILD HEALTH CONCERNS AND HOW TO COMBAT THEM
Summer, with its sunny days and outdoor adventures, beckons children to play and explore.
Nutritious VEGETARIAN TREATS
Madhulika vatsal, a Mumbai-based chef and founder of the popular facebook page ‘food connection’, shares three nutritious vegetarian recipes which children will love
Teen steps: NAVIGATING CAREER OPTIONS
A practical ten-point guide to enable secondary school leavers to navigate the process of making informed career choices
My son is struggling academically.HELP!
Here are some suggestions to support your son’s learning and academic difficulties:
Embrace cyclic LIVING
The ancient Indian science of Ayurveda says that human lifestyles should be in tune with the climatic seasons to ensure physical and mental well being.
Creating conducive home study ENVIRONMENT
With the new academic year all set to begin this month, PW presents a comprehensive child development guide devised by experts to enable parents to better prepare children to achieve their academic and extracurricular goals of the next year