Don’t give kids two minute warning when coming to TV

Gen Y kids are more interested in television and playing games in tablet than outdoor activities, parents who are fedup of their children being coach potatoes are trying hard to inculcate a healthy routine in children.

In their attempt most of the parents try a two-minute warning technique to distance them from tablets and television.
A recent survey done by Alexis Hiniker from University of Washington has pointed out that giving them a two-minute warning that "screen time" is about to end, as most parents tend to do, will make things worse.

Such warnings make kids grow more attached to the tablets, phones and television, Alexis notes. The researchers found that children aged one to five who were given a two-minute warning by their parents were more upset when the screen went off.

Psychiatrists and psychologists blame parents for turning their kids into coach potatoes. “Most of the parents treat television viewing or playing games on mobile phones and tablets as a treat for kids, such attitude of parents is making kids addicted to these technological mediums”, says Sreenivas, Clinical Psychiartist.

“Parents should develop a healthy routine for their children in which indoor, outdoor and technological medium should be equally planned”, he suggests.

“It takes time for children to get habituated to a healthy routine and parents should have patience until children get adjusted”, shares Chandana Rama, child psychologist.

“If not properly handled addicted children might turn into abusive and depressed adults”, warns Chandana. As per above opinions it is better for parents to handle children in a supple way without treating television and mobile phone or tablets as a trophy to help them in growing into a physically and mentally healthy child.

A part from that, parents should cultivate outdoor activities and hobbies in children to keep them away from the technological addictions.

By:Vaishnavi Girish