As a mother of two children, I see every day how great the attraction of digital media is for our little ones. The bright screens, the colorful apps and the endless possibilities offered by the internet have a magical attraction for them. But this fascination also harbors dangers. I would like to share my experiences and talk about how media addiction develops in children, the risks involved and how we as parents can guide our children towards a healthy approach to media.
It often starts quite harmlessly. A game on the tablet as a reward, a short film as a distraction or a learning program for school. But occasional use can quickly turn into a daily routine. I've noticed that my children reach for their tablet or smartphone more and more often as soon as they get bored or need a break. Hand on heart, we parents are not entirely innocent in this. All too often, we pass the smartphone on to the kids to have a conversation without shouting, to finish a task or simply to take a deep breath. Digital media is omnipresent and easily accessible, which makes it easier to start using it excessively.
According to a study by the Children's Health Foundation, children aged 8 to 12 spend an average of four to six hours a day in front of screens. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 even spend seven to nine hours a day on digital media.
I see the potential dangers of excessive media use every day:
- Physical health: My children occasionally complain of headaches or eye problems after long periods in front of a screen. The lack of exercise due to hours of sitting also leads to an increase in obesity.
- Social isolation: Instead of playing outside with friends, they often spend time alone in front of a screen. As a result, they have less real social contact and find it difficult to communicate face-to-face.
- Drop in performance at school: The constant distraction of digital media affects their concentration and can lead to poorer academic performance. I notice how hard it is for them to concentrate on their homework when the tablet is just a click away.
- Mental stress: The pressure to be present in social networks and constantly stay up-to-date can lead to stress and low self-esteem in children and young people.
These dangers are real, even if I never wanted to believe it as a child. My mother always warned me that if I spent too much time in front of the TV, it would implode and suck everything in. Including me. Fascinating. So from that point on, I held on tightly to the sofa and kept watching TV to experience this spectacle. A good example of how black pedagogy misses the mark. Personally, it is important to me to teach my children good self-regulation. This applies to many areas - food, sweets, sleep and also media. Easier said than done.
In my search for solutions, I came across the association "Aktiv gegen Mediensucht e.V.". This association does valuable work by educating families about the dangers of media addiction and offering support. "Reality must remain more appealing than virtual worlds," writes Ronald Stolz on the website of the Aktiv gegen Mediensucht e.V. association. A sentence that I would like to underline tenfold. In my conversation with Ronald Stolz, I learned more about his motivations and, to be honest, my view of media addiction has changed since then. Ronald is a "dry" World of Warcraft player. For 15 years. With the typical health and social consequences. Ronald founded the association Aktiv gegen Mediensucht e.V. to spare others this fate, to educate parents and to help those affected.
A study by the University of Lübeck and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (PINTA study) found that around 3% of young people aged 14 to 17 are addicted to the Internet. This corresponds to around 100,000 young people in this age group. The basis for this behavior is formed earlier. It is therefore also the concern of the association Aktiv gegen Mediensucht e.V. to educate parents at an early stage.
As a mother, I have learned that it is crucial to actively and consciously control my children's media consumption:
- Be a role model: I try to be aware of how I use media myself. When my children see that I'm not constantly glued to my smartphone, it sends an important message.
- Set rules and limits: We have introduced fixed times for media use. For example, mealtimes and one hour before bedtime are media-free times. We also have certain areas in the house, such as the dining room, that are completely media-free. Also for the parents.
- Offer alternatives: I promote activities that have nothing to do with digital media. We do sports together, read books or go on excursions. In this way, my children discover that there are many exciting things outside the digital world.
- Teaching media literacy: I regularly talk to my children about the content they see online. We discuss what they have experienced and what information is trustworthy. We also play games on the console together. Interesting experience. After a while, we always argue. "Mom, time for a walk!" We've learned together to stop when we get stressed.
If we stick to these rules, then reality is more appealing than the virtual worlds. It is an investment in our family's health and requires a lot of self-discipline.
Through our rules, I hope that my children use media consciously. Playing should be fun - outside, with other children and on the console. I don't believe in demonization. To date, the television has not imploded ;) In the right measure, media is great. Smartphones make our lives easier, smartwatches allow us to give children an invisible safety leash. Good knowledge programs teach children great content, and languages are also easier to learn. Media makes it easier for children to stay in touch with grandma, grandpa, friends, etc. Period, period, period.
As a mother, it is a challenge to keep an eye on my children's media consumption and at the same time educate them to use digital media in a healthy and conscious way. I try to promote balanced media consumption with clear rules, alternative activities and a conscious choice of media.
If you need more information on the subject of media addiction, I can recommend the website of the association "Aktiv gegen Mediensucht e.V.".
To the website