PARENTS CITE SOCIAL MEDIA AND SCREEN TIME AS TOP HEALTH CONCERNS FOR KIDS

PARENTING in 2025 sometimes felt like standing in quicksand.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

WHILE the situation may seem dire, there are tangible strategies parents can adopt to reclaim childhood from the clutches of screens.

(Pexels)

No matter how hard we pushed forward, technology's relentless grip on our children pulled us back.As a mother, I've watched our family dinners interrupted by the siren call of TikTok notifications, quiet evenings replaced by endless scrolling, and the glow of screens spilling into my kids' bedrooms at night.

And I'm not alone.

A recent poll by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital found that 83% of parents believe mental health among children and teens is declining, with screen time and social media topping the list of concerns.

These findings aren't just numbers; they're a reflection of the gnawing guilt, worry and helplessness that so many of us feel.

Technology isn't going anywhere. But as parents, we must ask: how do we protect our kids from a world designed to keep them hooked?

Let's be honest, screens are everywhere. They're our babysitters, tutors, and, sometimes, our peacekeepers. But the very tools that promise connection and education are also linked to an alarming rise in mental health issues among kids.

According to the American College of Pediatricians, excessive screen exposure is associated with lower academic performance, sleep disturbances, obesity, attention deficits, and even depression. It's haunting to think that something as seemingly harmless as a tablet can disrupt a child's cognitive and emotional growth.