“Don’t you realise that you have been watching TV since hours. Turn it off and do your homework.”
“TV all the time, why don’t you get up and play some games?”
Almost all of us relate to the dialogues mentioned above and many of you must be well capable of adding to the list. Well these have become a part and parcel of our daily lives, especially after the COVID period which gave us no other choice but to handover mobile, computer or laptops to the little advantage seekers along with the TV time that they were already enjoying more than required. Even we, the elders could not get unaffected, where some of it was required to fulfil the professional obligations (not talking about surfing social media or watching Netflix and the like).
Our act was backed by our willingness to make the children study for some time, to gain knowledge and make the home stay back days productive. With mothers busy in cooking scrumptious nibbles and meals with the added task of daily household chores (as the maids and helpers were enjoying their paid vacay at their homes) and fathers all engrossed in working from home, we thought we will turn the 24×7 free time of the children into productive time through the Online classes, which of course doubtlessly helped in continuing with the studies. However, the apple of our eyes were on the hunt for more screen time to achieve a level up in Minecraft, Roblox, or watch others making money by recording what they do at home, etc. Do you relate to what I have written?
Let’s get to the point now. There may be plethora of reasons for the upward inclination in the screen time of the children. However, with the shift to routine and the need to abridge the learning gap, there is a dire need to reduce the hand handled screen time as well as TV time of the kids. And if you think that they will obediently handover the phone or the remote to you, just on your word, it is a hope against hope hopen.
On a serious note, excessive use of technology and screen time may result in various mental, emotional as well as physical health issues such as obesity, educational lacunae, negative behavioural changes, sleep problems, disconnect with family, etc.
Well folks! A stitch in time saves nine! Where there is a will there is a way, we have a few solutions here to stay.
These methods of screen time reduction may seem a big task, but as you make it a routine, the benefits will get unfolded. Talk to your kids, explain them the hazards of extended screen hours. A healthy discussion is better than forceful decisions.
