You can complain about the symptoms and fail, or go after the root causes and succeed. Here are the root causes of why screens have become so prevalent in the lives of ypung people:
1. Lots of kids have to come home to empty houses after school because both parents have to work.
2. Lots of kids live ina apartment complexes where there is no nature nearby, or in dangerous neighborhoods where they don't feel safe leaving their houses unless it's absolutely necessary.
3. Many parents feel giving their kids smartphones or tablets is the best or only way to keep them occupied or out of trouble, especially if they can't afford alternative activities. And most kids don't see reading a book as a viable alternatuve activity.
4. Many kids get their kids smartphones to keep them from being social outcasts. The way I see it, if you're a parent, the more friends your kid has, the less power you have. Your kids can have friends, but they shouldn't aim to be the most popular kid in school. Focus on quality over quantity.
5. Words don't always have power. You may be able to make your kids believe anything you tell them when they're little, but your words will have less sway over them once they turn ten, and especially when they become teenagers. And the scary part is, kids who don't believe what adults say to them are often too polite or too scared to voice their doubts.
Feel free to expand on these root causes, or to provide possible solutions. Have a nice day.
