According to BS.CKII Nguyen Thanh Sang, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology - Rehabilitation - Traditional Medicine, Children's Hospital 2, the department regularly receives children with problems related to excessive use of electronic devices.
A 10-year-old girl was left at home alone for a long time by her parents due to being busy making a living. The phone became the only friend of the child. When taken for examination, the child's language ability and eyesight were significantly reduced, less flexible, and limited communication with friends.
Another case is a 7-year-old boy who used a private computer from a young age. Children gradually become withdrawn, often repeat the content in videos, laugh and talk to themselves and have difficulty absorbing lessons.
Doctors also received baby M., 6 years old, who was suspected by the family of having neurological symptoms, so the family took him to the doctor. However, in-depth assessment showed that the child's concentration was reduced, related to being less interacted with by parents and frequently using phones to comfort them.
In older children, the problem can be more serious. Baby N., 14 years old, uses games for about 5 hours a day. When the device is restricted, the child becomes irritable, smashes things, has violent behavior towards relatives and falls into a state of mental crisis.
According to BS.CKII Nguyen Thanh Sang, cases of examination due to screen abuse account for about 70-80% of the total of about 100 examinations per day at the department. If not intervened early, these effects can be prolonged and affect the child's development process.
According to doctors, before blaming children, parents need to review how they use their own devices. Many parents use phones as a "technology nanny", helping children sit still or more easily controlled.
Notably, doctors said that 56% of parents also regularly use phones when with their children. Some families even place electronic devices right in their children's bedrooms, making it difficult to control the time of use before bed.
Overuse of screens can affect sleep, reduce movement time, and limit direct interaction. Children spending too much time in front of screens can also have difficulty concentrating, communicating, and controlling emotions.
Parents need to pay attention when children have symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, hyperactivity, avoidance of eye contact, poor vocabulary, short concentration, difficulty remembering, difficulty sleeping or frequent fatigue.
BS.CKII Nguyen Thanh Sang recommends that parents should proactively establish discipline in using electronic devices in the family. Parents need to limit the use of phones when eating or playing with their children, and spend time interacting directly.
Instead of just prohibiting, parents can play with children, watch appropriate content together and encourage children to share what they know. In addition, you should increase outdoor activities, exercise and direct communication, and do not place electronic devices in children's bedrooms.
Before blaming their children, parents need to look back at themselves," Dr. Nguyen Thanh Sang emphasized.
