All about setting limits, say parents

Bad for eyes: More children in the country are now wearing glasses due to the extended use of digital devices. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Parents are not giving in to their children’s obsession with gadgets, but many have instead established a routine for “screen time” with the aim of protecting their eyesight and curbing potentially addictive behaviour.

Sandy Ngiam, a 42-year-old marketing controller from Kuala Lumpur, discovered her eight-year-old son had developed a worrying habit of excessive screen time. To address this, she decided to limit his access to electronic devices and only allow him to use them on weekends.

“Before I pass the gadget to him, I have to remind him when I will take it back. Once you set the expectation earlier, you can avoid them becoming upset and getting into arguments later,” she said.

Senior bank officer Shidah A, 50, from Ulu Kelang, found that her kids have a hard time letting go of their gadgets, prompting her to stop letting them use devices on weekdays.

“They were on their iPads all the time, to the point of being hooked. I decided I had enough by taking the iPads to the office and locking them in my drawer. I bring them back every weekend, so they essentially have a limited usage time.

“I felt that my kids were angrier and more frustrated all the time. Their minds were also not evolving due to their obsession with gadgets,” she said.

As a parent, executive Fazilah Bashah, 31 from Ampang, feels giving kids the best of both worlds is essential, saying that it’s important to be actively engaged in both the real world while keeping up with modern technology.

“Sometimes it can be hard to balance both, but we must put our foot down and have a timetable for tablets and electronic devices. Personally, I let my kids play with iPads, but only on weekends,” she said, adding that she also lets them use the devices as a reward.

“Most of the time, they will be on TV watching gift-unboxing (videos), Gabby Doll House or other children’s programmes. So far, I can see that I can control their device time and be able to have them return their devices by giving them prior notice,” she said.