Help your child quit using their phone.

Every summer, mobile phones become a "best friend" for many children as they have extended free time but lack healthy alternative activities.

Children participate in basketball classes at the Ho Chi Minh City Children's House during the summer - Photo: THANH HIEP

This makes children susceptible to social media addiction, where countless harmful contents lurk due to a lack of information censorship, leading to both physical and psychological consequences.

Health and psychological risks

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, a psychology lecturer at the Faculty of Education , University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, one of the reasons children use their phones frequently during the summer holidays is the desire to relax and reward themselves after a hard year of studying.

In particular, the content on social media today is designed to be attractive, especially short videos that easily draw children in. In addition, the need to connect with friends and the fear of missing out (FOMO) also contribute to children using phones more.

Similarly, psychologist Nguyen Ngoc Vui, a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, noted that social media is a virtual world where people share and receive information. However, this information is often "embellished," leading children to mistakenly believe it to be reality.

Spending too much time in the virtual world reduces children's ability to interact in real life. It's not uncommon for children to text while eating, or eat very quickly so they can return to their phones.

In particular, consuming too many fast-paced informational videos reduces children's ability to think deeply, diminishes their critical thinking skills, and makes them passive in the face of information. Meanwhile, children lack the ability to filter, critically analyze, and protect themselves from harmful content.

Learn how to use social media safely.

According to psychologist Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, to mitigate this situation, parents should first discuss with their children to reach specific agreements. When children are given the right to contribute their opinions on matters related to themselves, they will have a greater sense of responsibility and commitment to implementation. In addition, parents can consider educational and entertainment apps, which help children absorb knowledge in a relaxed way while making phone use more useful and purposeful.

Furthermore, to help children regulate their social media use, parents need to influence their awareness, attitudes, and behavior simultaneously. First, children need to be provided with clear information about the harmful effects of excessive phone use, including health impacts, the risk of gaming addiction, and online safety issues.

Parents should have honest conversations, clarifying that limiting phone use is for the child's benefit, not an imposition. Ultimately, regarding behavior, children need guidance on how to use social media safely, while also being encouraged to make commitments to use it responsibly and to monitor themselves.

According to psychologist Nguyen Ngoc Vui, to help children have a healthy and meaningful summer, parents should enroll their children in reputable summer courses on life skills, sports, or other experiential summer activities.

Therefore, if possible, the whole family should participate in a shared activity such as jogging, swimming, or learning a sport. This not only improves health but also strengthens the bond and communication between parents and children.

Given the generation gap, it's important to find activities that work for the whole family. Quality moments together will help children realize that the real world brings just as much joy and happiness as the online world.

Give your child a summer to grow up.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Bao Dung, founder of Ibsen Small Stage, believes that summer is the ideal time for children to develop life skills. Instead of letting children immerse themselves in electronic devices, parents can encourage them to participate in traditional games at home such as O An Quan (a Vietnamese board game), chess, and horse racing games. This helps children develop logical thinking, strategic skills, and intelligence naturally.

Another activity worth trying is watching movies with your child that are one to two hours long. After each movie, parents and children can discuss and analyze the content, characters, and situations, helping children develop critical thinking skills and the courage to express their personal opinions. Watching in-depth content that requires patience, like longer movies, is also a way for children to break free from the trend of consuming instant information often seen on TikTok or Facebook.

Especially if possible, parents should also take the time to take their children out to explore the world around them. Experiences such as letting children buy bus tickets themselves, find their way using Google Maps, and use public transportation like the metro or waterbus under gentle supervision will help children develop independence and calmly handle situations when going out without being overly anxious or panicked if they encounter problems.

Quality time with your child

Another way to teach children to be mature is to teach them how to manage their spending. Parents can give their children a small amount of money and let them decide whether to participate in an activity they enjoy. For example, between going to the movies or eating ice cream, which would the child choose? Situations like these will help children learn to balance their needs and budget, an important skill for the future.

"Children should be raised in a way that is appropriate for each stage of their development. The important thing is not to completely forbid things, but for parents to proactively create quality time with their children," emphasized Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Bao Dung.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giup-con-cai-dien-thoai-20250704102929137.htm