Banning children from using smartphones can send the wrong signals, experts say – but there are ways their use can be regulated. — dpa
How cute is it really that your three-year-old knows their way around a smartphone menu like a pro? Or is it maybe a bit concerning?
Either way, one thing's for sure: More and more kids are desperate to have their own mobile phone.
But what can families do to regulate smartphone usage? Here are three suggestions from German writer and tech expert Thomas Feibel:
Show them how much time they're wasting
It's all too easy to get sucked into a smartphone when all you wanted to do was check your Instagram feed or read the latest Facebook posts – before you know it, it's an hour later.
To demonstrate this to kids, Feibel suggests conducting the following experiment: Time how long it takes them to finish their homework – once with their phone, and once without.
They will probably take much longer if their phone is on hand. Since most children would like to spend less time on their homework, the experiment will help parents explain how much of a time-drain a smartphone can be.
Turn off some notifications
Parents and children can decide together which notifications should be active. It can also be helpful to stop notifications from appearing on the lock screen. Every "ping" causes a distraction and demands attention, just in case something interesting or funny is happening. Your brain gets used to the pattern, which can lead to addiction.
Avoid banning devices
Banning your child from using their smartphone may sometimes seem like the right thing to do, but it should really only be a last resort. Taking a device away sends the signal: "I am powerful and you are powerless." This is not fruitful ground for a constructive discussion.
A better solution would be to agree on times when everyone in the family will put their phone away – for example, during meals, at bedtime or on a specific day of the weekend. If your child doesn't adhere to the agreed rules, then you can choose to take away the phone for a day. – dpa
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