How to Solve the Problem of Children Being Addicted to Electronic Products

In today's digital age, electronic products have become a part of almost every child's daily life. According to the "Research Report on Internet Usage among Chinese Teenagers", more than 90% of teenagers have their own smart devices and spend more than 3 hours online every day on average. On the one hand, electronic products bring convenience to learning and entertainment, but on the other hand, they also cause many children to gradually become addicted to games, short videos or social media.

Addiction to electronic products may lead to a series of problems: impaired eyesight, lack of concentration, fluctuating academic performance, lack of exercise, irritability, and even social withdrawal. Many parents report that once their children are exposed to electronic products, they are "difficult to control", persuasion is ineffective, and coercion leads to quarrels, which strains family relationships.

This phenomenon is common in both urban and rural areas, and has become a difficult problem in most family education. To solve this problem, parents need to understand their children's psychological motivations and master scientific and gentle intervention methods.

Formulate reasonable usage rules: Let children take the initiative to reduce their dependence on electronic products

Research and cases show that “sense of participation” and “clear rules” are the keys to managing children’s use of electronic products.

1. Let children participate in rule-making to improve the implementation rate

Surveys show that when children participate in the formulation of family rules, compliance rates increase by about 60% (data source: American Child Psychological Association 2022 report).

For example:

Case: A Canadian mother and her 10-year-old son jointly formulated the rule of "finishing homework after school + 30 minutes of screen time every day". The child proposed to have an extended time reward every weekend, and the mother accepted it. The two signed a "family electronic contract". As a result, three months later, the son's average daily usage time dropped from 2 hours to 45 minutes.

2. Clarify time and content to improve executability

Data shows that children who use electronic products for more than 2 hours a day are more likely to have problems with learning attention and emotional control (Source: 2021 study in the Canadian Journal of Child Health).

To reduce the risk, it is recommended to:

Example of time limit : Children aged 6 to 12 should not use screens for entertainment for more than 1 hour per day, which can be increased moderately on weekends;

Content management tools : such as Apple's "Parental Controls" feature or Google Family Link, which can set daily usage time and disable apps;

Content recommendations : Use the "kids mode" version of YouTube or learning apps such as NetEase Youdao. Parents can set it to only allow access to educational content.

Case: A family in Toronto used Google Family Link to set a "daily 1-hour limit + automatic screen lock at 8 p.m." for their child during the holidays, which effectively reduced the child's late sleep and eye fatigue. The parents said that "the child is more willing to go outdoors during the day."

3. Use the “contractual” approach to enhance the sense of ceremony and responsibility

According to the Journal of Parenting Strategies Research, families who use "behavioral contracts" to manage screen time have an average compliance rate that increases by 45%.

You can sign a simple "electronics product use agreement" with your child, including:

Daily screen time limit (e.g. 45 minutes)

Apps that can be used (such as ABCmouse, NetEase Youdao)

Reward and penalty mechanism (e.g. 10 extra minutes for completing homework on time, 1 day suspension for not complying)

Put the rules in writing and post them on the refrigerator or desk so that your child can see them at any time to enhance the self-reminder effect.

4. Adhere to execution and combine positive incentives

Child behavior studies show that once a rule is followed for 21 consecutive days, it is easier for children to internalize it into a habit.

Therefore:

Initial persistence is key, and small rewards (e.g., sticker charts, weekend family game time) can be combined to increase motivation;

Conduct regular evaluations over the long term (e.g. review implementation every two weeks) and make adjustments when necessary.

Enrich your child's life with alternative means: stimulate interest and divert attention

The key to reducing children's dependence on electronic products is not to simply prohibit them, but to provide attractive alternatives . By enriching children's daily experience, their interest in screens can be gradually reduced.

1. Carry out regular parent-child activities

Studies show that children who participate in parent-child activities frequently spend about 38% less time using electronic devices per day (Source: American Healthy Kids Foundation, 2021 survey). Suggested parent-child activities include:

Fixed parent-child exercise day every week (such as skipping rope on Wednesday night, weekend outings)

Family Kitchen Day (make a simple dessert or dinner together)

15 minutes of parent-child reading time every night (picture books and story books that children are interested in can be selected)

Case: After a Chinese parent discovered that his child was addicted to games, he began to arrange weekend trips to the farmer's market to buy groceries, cook and share recipes. The child gradually became interested in ingredients and cooking, and spontaneously reduced his tablet use.

2. Encourage the development of interests and hobbies

When children have other hobbies, electronic devices are naturally not the only "entertainment tool".

Common Alternative Areas of Interest:

Art: painting, clay, children's photography

Sports: swimming, roller skating, martial arts, children's yoga

Skills: puzzles, building blocks, programming toys (such as scratch)

Data shows that children who participate in interest classes more than twice a week spend about 50 minutes less time using electronic products per day than the average level (Source: Canadian Parenting Development Centre, 2022).

3. Formulate “No Electronics Establishment”

Create family routines such as:

Schedule an hour a day without electronics, such as playing board games, drawing, and chatting together after dinner;

Set certain areas as no - electronics zones, such as the dining table, bedroom, and bathroom, to help children stay away from distractions.

Case: A British family has a rule that “electronic devices are not allowed in the bedroom”. The children began to take the initiative to read books as a habit before going to bed, which helped improve their sleep quality.

4. Invite your children to participate in daily affairs

Children who have a “sense of purpose” in their lives will be less likely to seek out screens out of boredom.

Things to get your child involved in include:

Set the table, tidy up the desk, clean the room

Participate in raising pets and caring for plants

Create a weekend activity schedule for your family

These can not only cultivate a sense of responsibility, but also improve the quality of communication and interaction with parents.

Long-term addiction to electronic products is often a substitute behavior caused by "lack of real social interaction."

suggestion:

Arrange small gatherings, picnics, and interest group activities for children and friends

Encourage participation in interest groups at school or in the community

Data shows that children who participate in offline group activities have social confidence scores 21% higher than non-participants , and their screen dependence is significantly reduced (Source: UNICEF's "Children's Digital Behavior Research Report" 2021 edition).

Solving the problem of children being addicted to electronic products requires parents' long-term persistence and patient communication. Each family's situation is different, so you can flexibly adjust your strategy to find the most suitable method for yourself. There is no universal solution. The key is to understand your children, accompany them, and gradually guide them to establish healthier living habits.