Parents in a catch over kids’ gadget, TV addiction

Hubballi: Many parents in the twin cities are now worried about their children’s screen time, which has become a norm of sorts given online classes in the time of Covid. With them not allowing their children to step out during the monthslong lockdown, they fear the latter have gotten addicted to gadgets.
The pandemic has thrown the academic calendar of schools and colleges to a toss, leaving the parents uncertain about the possible date of school/ college reopening. Stuck in Catch-22 situation, the anxious parents are now making calls to psychiatrists in an attempt to make their children free of gadget/ TV addiction.
The lockdown has also deprived young children their dose of outdoor games, leaving them with TV and smartphones, where they watch shows like cartoons and play games, respectively. The major worry of parents of such children is binge watching as it is making their children aggressive, restless and deprived of sleep.
Dimhans director Dr Mahesh Desai said that parents are left with no option, but to allow their children to watch TV shows and play games on smartphones. “Parents working from home usually leave their children with TVs and gadgets to avoid being disturbed or distracted by them,” he said, adding the level of addiction can be known after the schools/ colleges reopen.
Dr Alok V Kulkarni, consultant psychiatrist at Manasa Institute of Mental Health, said that parents struggled to manage their children during lockdown. “They should pay attention towards their wards whatever may be the work pressure,” he said, adding that he had recently counselled three children who were addicted to the screen. “One of the parents also said that their child is improving,” he said.
Veteran psychiatrist Dr Anand Pandurangi said that most of the parents failed to understand their children. “If they do, most of the problems will be solved. If the child is addicted to gadgets, they should try and cut the screen time gradually. Of course, work is important for parents. What is equally important is how they raise the children,” he said.