Raising a gadget-free child! Here’s how a mom did it
Created by Asha Vincent Updated on Jul 09, 2020
Is it really possible to raise children that aren’t hooked on gadgets or glued to the TV? I never thought so. Being a mother of three children, with the two older ones being 11 and 9, it was difficult to control the use of gadgets, as they grew up with them around constantly.
Inspector gadget
I'm a mother of three beautiful angels. My older ones, 11 and 9, literally grew up with gadgets. I used to play rhymes on the desktop or laptop while feeding. They watched children’ channels on TV regularly, and played games on my phone. Slowly, the smartphone and iPad were introduced. They played outside too, but spent a lot of time with some sort of electronic device in their hands.
Althoughboth are very good with academics, love reading books and have an extensive vocabulary, I was worried about the impact that this 24/7 dependence on electronics could have. So I tried to limit it.
Going gadget-free
When my third daughter was born last year, I vowed that I would keep her life gadget-free. But t was easier said than done. Every adult around her has a phone, and she is drawn to the TV each time we switch it on. I sang rhymes to her, but the ones with music on the internet were much better. I read a lot to the baby, too but at the end of one year I realized I could only cut down on the time she spends with electronic company, and there wasn’t any need to shut out electronics completely.
Finding a balance
Frankly, I don't see the need to deprive the child of some entertainment. After having gone completely gadget-free, I understand and feel that children must have at least some sort of supervised exposure to electronics, but there should be some ground rules, too:
1. Parents should set time limits
2. Children must be encouraged to play outside
3. Children should be told about the ill-effects that gadgets can have on them
4. Most importantly, parents must lead by example. Don’t be on the phone when your children want to talk to you, and teach them know how to use gadgets wisely.
Do you supervise your children’s ‘gadget time’? How do you manage to strike the right balance? Let us know in the comments below!
This content has been checked & validated by Doctors and Experts of the parentune Expert panel. Our panel consists of Neonatologist, Gynecologist, Peadiatrician, Nutritionist, Child Counselor, Education & Learning Expert, Physiotherapist, Learning disability Expert and Developmental Pead.
| Apr 14, 2017
Hi, Thanks for suggesting such a nice blog. I just want your advice on how to engage a almost 3 year old boy when you have limited options available at home. I tried to engage him in coloring he takes interest just for few minutes after that he starts taring papers and finally I have to engage him in some electronics. So that I can finish off my house hold work. I stay in US and here we only have to house work and as our stay is for few months , we have not purchased many items apart from his favorite toys.
| Apr 15, 2017
Hi I too have the same problem.. my baby is 1 yr n 9 months old , and she is also addicted to TV n phone for Rhymes. It started when she refused to eat anything and I found myself easy to show her some Rhymes so that she gets diverted and eats easily. But now I am really worried about it as it my affect her eyes. So could you give me some suggestions regarding it problem.
| Apr 15, 2017
I have two kids n both my kids r adicted to Mobile phone.. since last month i hv become more strict.. now when they cry for phone, i hv started ignoring them.. i dont response to them.. they cry loud bcoz this generation know how to imotional blackmail their parents.. once i dont response my kids.. their mind diverts to other toys n games.. and it really worked for me..
| Apr 15, 2017
My baby is 2 yrts and 7 mnths old. he was very attached with mobile. without mobile he dnt sleep,eat. Me and my hubby decide we dnt give him mobile. so that he ask for mobile we both tried to motivate his mind in other things.... it took time but it s effective. In front of him we dnt talk in phone.... last 2 mnths he sleep,play,eat without mobile...
| Jun 17, 2017
I also had the same issue with my two sons , 4 years old nd the younger one 1 year old. They eat ,slept nd played with these smart gadgets . But from past one month me nd my hubby made it a point to avoid mobiles in front of them. I even hidded my mobile nd used when they both slept. for emergency I used a basic phone which dint had any smartness.. But know after one month the results are positive. They both are changing. Thank God.
| Jun 17, 2017
I have 1. 3 year baby girl & she is totally gadget free because I don't show her rhymes & cartoons in mobile as well as in TV while eating. I keeps her busy in another activities. because rays of gudgets spoils eyesight as well as they become addicted so can't concentrate on another learning activities. I think at least ignore gedgets till they are under parents control. if they will learn than we can set time limit.
| Jul 27, 2017
hi, iam a mother f 2 yr old angle. I sometimes feel not to show rhymes on tv nd mobile but she has learnt lot f things frm all dos. I ll allow her watching rhymes once r twice a day not more than 1 hr a day. V shud not completely cut them playing r enjoying anything but shud follow limits. Dis s my my view frnds.
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