Gadgets provide tremendous opportunities for learning and entertainment, but they have also raised a new challenge for parents and educators: children's dependence on mobile phones.
Technology has become a constant companion in our lives, and this is even more true for the younger generation. Children are growing up surrounded by screens – from smart phones and tablets to laptops and televisions.
This constant engagement with digital technology is a growing source of concern with significant implications for children's health and development, warn experts at global security software company ESET. The term "cell phone addiction” may sound extreme, but the reality is that this modern phenomenon silently weaves its web around children, disrupting their physical health, mental well-being, and overall developmental trajectory.
A recent study published in National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US finds a worrying link between mobile device addiction and the negative effects it has on children's health.
According to the study, cell phone addiction, which is defined as excessive or poorly controlled behavior, thinking or urges on the phone, results in distress and functional impairment in various areas of life. The main victim of this addiction is physical health, with reduced physical activity noted as a major consequence. In short, the more addicted kids are to their phones, the less likely they are to engage in physical activity.
Lack of physical activity can lead to various health problems in children, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and mental health problems, as there is a link between increased screen time on mobile devices and an increase in depressive symptoms and suicide-related conditions. It can also disrupt their sleep and affect their academic performance and social skills, thus hindering their overall development.
What can we do to help?
The first step is to recognize the problem, explains Alžbeta Kovaľová, partner at the Digital Safety Awareness Platform for Parents and Children SaferKidsOnline of ESET. Understanding the negative effects of mobile phone addiction on children's mental and physical health is crucial to developing effective strategies to combat it. We also need to educate our children about the dangers of excessive use of mobile devices and promote healthier alternatives, such as outdoor play, reading and hobbies that promote creativity and critical thinking, advises Kovaľová.
Setting boundaries is another important aspect. Implementing phone-free zones and hours, encouraging device-free meals, and limiting phone use can help reduce screen time and improve a child's overall health.
Educators can also play a key role by integrating physical activity into the school curriculum and promoting a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Schools can also provide workshops and seminars for students and parents, discussing the dangers of mobile device addiction and how to deal with it.
Practical advice from his team SaferKidsOnline of ESET
- Create an electronic device usage plan: This plan may include setting limits on daily screen time, setting phone-free zones and hours, and making decisions about appropriate content,
- Encourage healthy habits: Promote physical activity, outdoor play and hobbies that do not involve electronic devices,
- Set a good example: Parents should also limit the use of mobile devices, demonstrating a balanced approach to technology,
- Appliances away from the dining table: Make meals a mobile-free zone, encouraging conversations and interactions;
- Encourage good sleep habits: Avoid using the phone an hour before bedtime to ensure your child gets a good night's sleep.
For those of you who want to know more about "child and safety in Internet»You can visit it website saferkidsonline of ESET.
