Years ago it was the insistent creaking of typing, then the continuous beeping of messages and it is enough to see them all day with their faces glued to the screen of their smartphone for adults to get nervous. The addiction of the children to the mobile represents one of the fears of the parents of the XXI century. It is not for less taking into account the data, since the beginning of the treatments for abuse of screens begins at thirteen years of age or even before.
Family isolation, sleep disturbances, anxious and dependent attitudes, mood swings, school failure and even anxiety or depression disorders. These are the consequences that children who develop an addiction to mobile phones can suffer. For this reason, the best measure is prevention, that is, preventing the use of mobile phones from monopolizing your free time.
The easiest and most effective of all the tips that can be given to prevent children from being glued to the mobile is to keep them busy. This can be achieved through their involvement in housework, it does not always have to be in cleaning or tidying up the home. They can also be encouraged to help in the kitchen during the preparation of lunch or dinner, an activity that will not only be fun, but also educational.
Another formula is to promote family plans. At home, board games or manual activities will be excellent plans. It is also possible to bring something new to the house that requires the involvement of the child, as well as some responsibility, such as the creation of a small urban garden.
Of course, outdoor activities will always be recommended, from hiking, short weekend getaways, getting to know nearby towns or even simply visiting new places in the town where you live.
If parents detect that their children are beginning to spend too many hours on their mobile, it might be useful to limit its functions. In other words, establish time limits for the use of applications or implement parental control functions that are considered necessary, such as avoiding downloading without
parental consent.
However, it should be remembered that nothing that is carried out to prevent children from spending all day with their smartphone will be useful if it is not led by example. That is, children and also adolescents are influenced by the behavior of their parents.
