Digital addiction is becoming worrisome for parents as many children are now spending longer times on devices. Parents, did you know? Digital addiction takes a toll on the child’s physical and mental well-being. Therefore, it is essential to limit children’s screen time and encourage activities such as reading and outdoor play. Parents, it’s time to inculcate healthy habits in children and improve their quality of life.Parents,

Then, it is necessary to encourage the child to limit the usage of devices. In today’s digital world, children are growing up surrounded by smartphones, tablets, and online content. Even if the technology helps in learning and entertainment, excessive screen time is becoming a growing concern. Many children now spend 2-3 hours a day on devices, sometimes at the cost of sleep, outdoor play, and family interaction. Over time, this can turn into digital addiction, affecting not just their routine but also their overall health and behaviour. The children will become cranky, violent, or misbehave if they are denied access to these digital devices.Understanding the physical impact of digital addiction on children: Children who end up spending extended hours on devices can experience obesity, poor posture, eye strain, body pain, fatigue, weakness, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, insufficient sleep, acidity, back, neck, hand, and shoulder pain. Lack of outdoor play also affects their overall growth and immunity, and they may fall sick every now and then. Along with physical health, even the mental well-being of the child gets impacted.This is how digital addiction impacts the child’s mental well-being: Children may become frustrated, irritable, cry, anxious, or restless when not using devices. They may lose interest in studies, hobbies, or social interactions and will just want to keep scrolling the reels. Excessive screen use can affect attention span, lead to mood changes, and impact self-esteem. Digital addiction can also impact the child’s academic performance.

Parents, look for these warning signs in children

The child will prefer spending a lot of time on screens and may get upset when asked to stop No interest in outdoor play, hobbies, studies, or family timeLack of sleep or staying up late on devicesSigns such as irritability, mood swings, or anger when not using gadgets Inability to focus on studies or daily tasks Avoiding social interaction, staying indoors Constantly talking about gamesSneaking online during sleeping timeSkipping meals to be online and play gamesParents shouldn’t miss these signs at all. Instead of scolding the child or being harsh, make the child understand the ill effects of digital addiction.Parents should make sure to set clear and consistent screen time limits. Encourage the child to play outdoors or opt for sports like cricket and football. The child can also follow hobbies such as painting and dancing. Parents should try to spend quality time with children to strengthen the bonds. Watch educational movies with the child so that the he/she doesn’t watch reels. So, by recognising early signs and taking simple steps, parents can help children avoid excess smart phone usage.Dr. Shruti Ghatalia, Pediatrician at Zynova Shalby Hospital, Mumbai