October 15th 2024.
There is a growing movement to ban smartphones in schools due to concerns about the negative impact they may have on children's mental health. Parents often joke that smartphones are like "baby crack", and anyone who has tried to take a toddler to a restaurant knows the struggle of trying to keep them entertained without resorting to handing over a phone or iPad. It's become increasingly common for children as young as five to have their own smartphones, and while they can be a useful tool for staying in touch with our kids, they also open them up to the wider world and can even lead to addiction.
The issue of smartphone use among children will be discussed in Parliament this week, with a private member's bill calling for a ban on phones during school hours across the country. This bill also aims to review whether smartphones should be sold to younger teens at all, and make it harder for tech companies to target children with addictive algorithms. Dr. Marianne Trent, a clinical psychologist, shares her concern about the overwhelming nature of technology for children whose brains are still developing and have yet to fully develop impulse control.
Dr. Trent herself has an 11-year-old son whom she allowed to have a smartphone once he started going out by himself. However, she has implemented measures such as a screen plan that automatically shuts down his phone after 8pm to protect his rest. She has noticed that many of her son's peers do not have such restrictions, with notifications constantly arriving day and night. Her son, while frustrated that he can't have TikTok yet, has also come to appreciate the fun of screen-free days, with table football being a recent success.
The use of smartphones among children has become a growing concern as the number of children and teens being treated for mental health conditions continues to rise. A study by the University of Oxford is currently looking into the potential link between smartphone use and the increasing rates of anxiety and depression among young people. Dr. Trent shares some of the signs that may indicate a child has become dependent on their smartphone, and suggests that if parents spot these signs, it may be time to make changes.
Some of these signs include distress or resistance when boundaries are put in place for screen time, agitation when not using a phone, neck and back pain, lying about usage, being constantly distracted and missing out on other things, and poor sleep. Dr. Trent suggests setting boundaries and finding other activities to fill the gap as a way to address smartphone addiction. She also emphasizes the importance of being a good role model by addressing our own screen time habits as parents.
Bex Burn-Callander, a 41-year-old mother of two, has already made the decision to not give her children smartphones until they are at least in secondary school. She believes that setting limits on screen time is not about being a "bad guy", but rather about helping children tap into other sources of joy and developing a healthy balance in their lives. This may require more active parenting during the adjustment period, and parents may also need to address their own screen time habits in order to be good role models for their children.
There is a growing movement to ban smartphones in schools, with concerns about the potential harm they may be causing to children's mental health. Many parents have even likened them to 'baby crack' and have experienced the struggle of trying to keep their toddlers occupied without the help of a screen, resorting to Peppa Pig as a last resort.
Phones and iPads have become an integral part of childhood for many families, with studies showing that a quarter of children between the ages of five and seven now own their own smartphone. However, along with the rapid advancement of technology, there are also growing concerns about its negative impacts.
While phones can be a useful way to stay in touch with our children as they gain more independence, they also expose them to the rest of the world and can even lead to addiction. This issue will be discussed in Parliament on Wednesday, with a private member's bill proposing a ban on phones during the school day and a review of their sale to younger teens. It also aims to make it harder for tech companies to use children's data for targeted and addictive algorithms.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Marianne Trent is among those who are worried about the overwhelming nature of technology for children, whose brains and impulse control are still developing. She shared that while her eight-year-old doesn't have a phone, she did buy her 11-year-old one when he started going out by himself. However, she has implemented a screen time limit that automatically shuts down his phone at 8pm to protect his rest. Unfortunately, many of his peers do not have such restrictions, with notifications constantly bombarding them at all hours of the day.
Dr. Trent recalled an incident when her son downloaded WhatsApp and within just two hours, there were already 1,200 unread notifications on his phone. She believes that this kind of overwhelming exposure to technology can be detrimental to a child's well-being.
In light of the increasing number of children and teens being treated for mental health conditions, a study by the University of Oxford is examining the potential contribution of smartphones to this issue. Initial results have shown a correlation between higher rates of anxiety and depression and excessive use of social media.
Dr. Trent also shared some warning signs that may indicate a child's dependence on smartphones. These include distress or resistance when boundaries are put around screen time, agitation when not using screens, neck and back pain from poor posture, lying about usage, being constantly distracted and neglecting other areas of life, and poor sleep.
To tackle this issue, the first step is to set boundaries around the use of technology, such as limiting screen time to a certain time each weekend day. It's also important to provide alternative activities to fill the gap left by screens. Dr. Trent emphasized that setting boundaries does not make a parent the bad guy, but rather helps children tap into other joys that they may not have even considered.
This may require more active parenting during the adjustment period, as well as addressing one's own screen time in order to be a good role model. Bex Burn-Callander, a 41-year-old mother of two, has already made the decision to not give her children smartphones until they are in secondary school. She believes that as parents, it's important to be actively involved in our children's lives and provide them with a healthy balance of activities and technology.
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