Concerns from digital devices

(QBĐT) - After 9 months of hard studying, summer vacation is a time that children eagerly look forward to. However, this is also a time when many parents worry because they do not know how to manage and control their children in the face of the reality that children are increasingly "addicted" to using phones, televisions and social networks. How to manage children, how to arrange appropriate and safe play and activities is a big challenge for many families.

Entering the summer vacation, like many other children, Le Nhat Phuong (14 years old), in Bac Ly ward (Dong Hoi city), had a real time to rest. Not having to wake up early to go to school, her daily activities mainly revolved around eating, playing and sleeping. After being glued to her phone, Phuong turned on the TV to watch cartoons, then turned back to the phone. Phuong's parents are state officials, have to work all day so they don't have time to be there to remind and manage their child. As a result, although the summer vacation has only lasted a short time, she has begun to show unusual signs, such as: being absent-minded, losing concentration...; the distance between them watching TV is getting closer and closer.

Ms. Le Bao Ngoc, Phuong's mother, shared: "Normally, it's okay for my child to go to school, but during summer vacation, my husband and I are extremely worried because only my child gets to take a break from school, while my husband and I still have to go to work. There are no grandparents around to supervise and remind us, so it's difficult to closely manage our children."

Mr. Nguyen Tien Sang and his wife, in Phu Thuy commune (Le Thuy), have two young children, one in grade 7 and the other in grade 2. Worried about their children being "addicted" to electronic devices, this summer vacation, Mr. Sang and his wife installed cameras in their house to better monitor their children's use of phones and TV. "I go to work but still monitor my children through cameras. When I see them watching for too long, I remind them to stop and go study. If they are not self-disciplined, I will take measures such as turning off the internet or putting away the remote control, so that they can stay home and play only healthy and useful games. In today's digital age, forbidding children from watching TV and using phones is very difficult to do," said Mr. Sang.

Watching too much electronic devices will affect children's health.

Meanwhile, to limit her child's abuse of electronic devices during the summer, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Nga, in Dong Phu ward (Dong Hoi city) confided: "I only let my child watch TV for 2 hours a day, of which 30 minutes is spent accessing English learning sites; the remaining time is spent watching YouTube channels for entertainment purposes. To limit my child from watching too many electronic devices, I create a daily schedule for my child by session. For example: Exercise in the morning, learn a foreign language in the afternoon, and participate in outdoor activities in the evening. I often remind my child about the harmful effects of using computers and phones too much. Fortunately, my child is aware of this and voluntarily uses electronic devices within the prescribed time, even when his parents are not around, so I feel very secure."

Dr. Nguyen Van Luyen, Professional Director, Viet An Eye Hospital, Nam Ly Ward (Dong Hoi City) said: “Using electronic devices too much will put young children at risk of delayed speech, poor concentration, and impaired vision. In particular, there are children with TIC syndrome, such as: blinking, shrugging, shaking their heads, jerking their jaw muscles, or making strange sounds... To protect their children's eyes, parents can apply the 20/20/20 rule, which means that after every 20 minutes of focusing on an electronic device, you should let your eyes rest and focus on another object at least 20 feet away (about 6m), for at least 20 seconds”.

To avoid children abusing electronic devices leading to unfortunate consequences, parents should also limit their children's time using electronic devices to only 2 hours per day. Parents can assign their children some simple housework, let them participate in skill classes or train their children to have positive physical activities, such as: singing, playing soccer, badminton... This will fill their children's free time, helping them forget about TV and phones.

“Children who are regularly exposed to the outside environment will have better physical strength, adaptability and a better immune system,” Dr. Luyen emphasized.

In fact, nowadays, children have the habit of using phones, computers, and televisions from a very early age. That period of time is even longer when they enter the summer vacation. The more dependent children are on electronic devices, the more serious consequences it can lead to for their physical and mental health. Many parents have a "headache" when their children are "addicted" to watching TV as well as other technological devices without any interest in outside activities.

To make sure that their children’s minds and futures are not limited to TV and phone screens, parents must make every effort to “detox” their children. Without timely supervision, care, and guidance from adults, children will gradually lose their childhood. Therefore, no matter how busy or worried about making a living, parents should spend time caring for and sharing with their children. Because electronic devices, when used properly, are still an essential channel for entertainment and learning in today’s digital age.

Thuy Trang

Source: https://baoquangbinh.vn/xa-hoi/202506/noi-lo-tu-thiet-bi-cong-nghe-so-2227272/