Are your kids hooked to smartphones? Experts share tips on how to manage their screen time

In a recent interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook above the interviewer shared that his child was obsessed with his smartphone Cook continued that todayrsquos children are born in a digital era terming them ldquodigital kidsrdquo and that it is important to set boundaries when it comes to their technology usage But how do parents and school administrators inculcate a healthy relationship with smartphones in todayrsquos techsavvy children Experts decode it for usSetting boundariesParenting expert Tejashri Acharya explains that parents should delay introducing their children to screens and gadgets or avoid it completely till the age of two Post this they should not exceed one hour of screen time for toddlers Knowing that tantrums will be common Acharya warns against negative associations with screens such as angrily taking the phone away Give it happily take it happily she notes and adds ldquoWhen tantrums occur while taking away a gadget calmly empathise with your child take the gadget back Remember to connect before you correctrdquoAnother method is to enjoy phone time together Acharya points out that you might not want to take the phone or laptop away while the child is enjoying a game Instead be involved understand the game how your child plays it and ask them questions This can give you a chance to have meaningful conversations about phone usage with them which may eventually help them approach gadgets in a healthier wayItrsquos all about the contentChetan DrsquoSouzaAcharya also notes the importance of kidfriendly content while emphasising quality screen time over quantity Chetan DrsquoSouza a parent and founder of KidzByte a mobile application that curates news for children adds ldquoPost the pandemic screen time among children of all age groups has increased thus creating a profound impact on their social emotional cognitive and physical development Learning how to use media and technology wisely is an essential skill that we must inculcate in themrdquo For this he suggests rethinking screen time where content is more important than the time kids spend on devicesIs screen time necessaryPrachi SrivastavaHowever Prachi Srivastava child and adolescent psychologist disagrees She notes that giving a child a gadget is nothing more than a convenient thing ldquoThe more we label children as digital children the more we will succumb to giving them a phonerdquo she notes and continues that exposure to technology is not necessary She points out that adults should interact with and encourage children to use and build on their imagination instead of feeding them digital content and tools ldquoA child canrsquot entertain themselves So instead of giving them a gadget be involved with their growth and mental stimulation and offer the tools environment and space to feed other interests and hobbiesrdquo Srivastava suggestsHow to use digital toolsDrsquoSouza highlights that knowledge about data protection and privacy are important concepts for parents and children to understand in these times He continues ldquoBy introducing learning modules that cover healthy screen time cyberbullying online privacy protection and other relevant topics wersquoll be able to guide children on their quest for knowledge and help them become a responsible digital generationrdquo He adds ldquoEvery child has a voice of their own and so itrsquos good to have them participate in the content creation environment and experience The journey from content consumers to creators can positively impact peertopeer learningrdquoDelay the introduction of screens for babies and toddlers Engage the children using offline tools that feed their imagination hobbies and interestsThoughts on elearningSrivastava keeping urban India in mind counters this and notes that books and field visits trump online research for young minds since the latter turns learning nonexperiential Feeding information from outside or from researching information online makes us codependent on technology limiting the possibility of relying on our questioning and interpretation skills and imaginationUma Kogekar CEO of CEQUE a notforprofit organisation that works with teachers of government and lowincome private schools to establish better pedagogic practices believes that using digital tools and elearning is neither good nor bad Instead how we use these tools to create meaningful learning experiences for students mattersUma KogekarldquoIf the usage is focused towards consumption of content however wellmade or engaging it may be the role of the learner tends to be more passive The role of a teacher here is critical in crafting learning experiences that foster critical thinking skillsrdquo She explains that the nature of learning as a social endeavour was recognised during the pandemic when schooling moved online and digital tools only supported the work in a classroom She adds ldquoIn an age of personalised learning through digital tools teachers will still play the central role in fostering a love for learning skills of collaboration and building academic tenacityrdquoKogekar continues that the issues are different for students in rural India who are on the other side of the digital divide ldquoAccess to digital devices availability of network and other economic disadvantages are the reality An investment in the above along with skilling teachers in rural India would be a first step towards putting underserved students at par with their peers in urban India helping them reap the benefits of a welldesigned curriculum aided by digital tools that are contextual and languagespecificrdquo she concludesAvoid the trap1 Give your child their personal phones as late as possible2 Have clarity on screen time limits and communicate it with your child Involve your child in setting these boundaries3 Show your child how to use technology in a healthy manner for studies and hobbies4 Ensure you connect with your child without screensTejashri Acharya