Children addicted to electronic devices in the summer - Responsibility of adults

Summer vacation is the ideal time for children to play, exercise and develop skills. However, nowadays, many children - instead of exploring the world around them - spend most of their time "immersed" in the screens of phones, tablets, and televisions. Children addicted to electronic devices is no longer an isolated phenomenon but has become a common reality, especially in the summer - a time when children have a lot of free time but lack suitable alternative activities.

Excessive exposure to electronic device screens can cause vision problems in children.

Many families today are facing the situation of children depending on electronic devices as a “close friend”. In many families with school-age children, it is not uncommon for children to use their phones from morning to night, eating, watching YouTube, TikTok, and even secretly playing video games at night.

Prolonged use of electronic devices is clearly affecting children's physical and mental health: impaired vision, disturbed sleep, poor communication skills and, most importantly, passivity in thinking and behavior.

Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoan (residing in Ben Luc commune, Tay Ninh province), whose daughter is 15 years old, shared: "I work all day, and there is no one to look after her, so I have to leave her at home with the iPad. At first, it was just for her to watch cartoons and listen to music, but gradually she became addicted to short videos with content such as dancing, teasing,... to the point of not eating, losing sleep, and getting angry if the device is taken back."

Cases like Ms. Ngoan’s are not uncommon. Many parents, despite their worries, are still confused about how to effectively “untangle” their children from electronic devices, especially when the parents themselves are caught up in the technology cycle.

The reasons for this situation come from many sides. First of all, it is the lack of direction from adults. Modern life forces parents to spend most of their time on work, giving children devices as a "temporary babysitter" has become a popular solution.

In addition, the living environment for children in the summer is also lacking in diversity. Community playgrounds are limited, extracurricular classes are sometimes not suitable for the economic conditions of some families. In addition, content on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and online games is increasingly attractive, constantly updated and accessible, making it more difficult for children to resist the attraction of the screen.

However, what is more worrying is that many parents still think that it is normal for their children to watch TV and play games during the summer, as long as they do not cause trouble. This thinking not only underestimates the negative impact of technology but also misses the opportunity to shape children's reasonable time-use habits.

That said, this is not the case for all parents. On the contrary, some parents proactively create a positive living environment, thereby helping their children gradually distance themselves from digital device dependence.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (living in My Thanh commune) has a 12-year-old son, said: "From the beginning of summer, my husband and I planned our child's activities. In the morning, he exercises, in the afternoon he helps his parents cook or does chores within his capacity such as sweeping the yard, watering the plants, and cleaning his own bedroom. We do not ban phones completely, but we clearly limit the time. The important thing is to create many other activities for our child so that he can see that life outside the screen is equally interesting."

The solution to prevent children from being addicted to electronic devices is not to completely ban them, but to reorganize their time and living space appropriately. Parents need to play the role of guiding, accompanying and most importantly, setting an example in the use of technology.

Schools and organizations should also organize more diverse and creative summer activities so that children have the opportunity to explore themselves in a healthy environment with lots of real-life interactions.

There is no denying the role of technology in today's life, but for children, the age when their personality and skills are forming, controlling and guiding the use of electronic devices is something that cannot be taken lightly. Summer should not be the season of eyes glued to electronic screens but the season of laughter, movement and experience. That responsibility, first and foremost, belongs to adults./.

My Thi

Source: https://baolongan.vn/tre-nghien-thiet-bi-dien-tu-trong-mua-he-trach-nhiem-cua-nguoi-lon-a200299.html