
For instance, if a child is willing to sacrifice basic needs such as eating or sleeping in favor of screens, this may indicate a form of screen addiction.”īooks, toys, social interaction, parks, and parties all hold the objective of entertaining and sparking a child’s joy. Parents and guardians should evaluate how a child responds to the removal of screens and if a lack of devices impact their day-to-day wellbeing. “Ultimately, the time spent on a screen doesn’t reflect dependency. Failure to stop using screens without severe distress or continually referring back to the screen, so much so that it interrupts everyday activities such as play or human interaction, can serve as a bigger red flag then simply the amount of time accumulated on a screen.” “However, this is not necessarily the case. “An assumption is often made that time spent on a screen is the first thing that must be analysed to establish how dependent a child is on it”, states Qustodio. “Time spent on a screen doesn’t reflect dependency.” Here, parental control and digital wellbeing tool Qustodio reveals the 5 red flags that indicate a child is experiencing screen addiction, and presents adoptable tips that help prevent screen dependency. Medical practitioners often determine the impact of a 3 rd party on the everyday life of the child as well as its impact when withdrawn. “Screen addiction” is measured in the same way as any other addiction. In the 21 st century, children engaging in some form of screen time is somewhat inevitable, and often encouraged by guardians in certain situations-while still being mindful of the amount of time the child spends in front of a screen. The term “screen addiction” is considered to be harsh by many parents and carers.
