Parents in the UK find it difficult to get children off gadgets

Action for Children, a charity that works for the benefit of youngsters, has claimed that most parents in the UK find it difficult to get their child off an electronic device. A survey conducted by the organisation revealed that one in four parents in the UK found it difficult to indulge their children in more useful activities.

According to the study, 23.1% of mothers and fathers struggled to control their children's use of TVs and computers. Around 10% found it hard to get them to do their homework, while 17.5% had issues while getting them to sleep. Moreover, a little under 5% found it difficult to get their offspring to take a bath.

Healthy eating is yet another issue that cropped up during the survey, with nearly 17% of parents admitting that it was strenuous to make their children eat the right food. The survey has been published at a time when there is growing concern over children idling their time watching TV or by going online.

Responding to the poll, Paul Carberry, director of children's services at Action for Children Scotland pointed out that technology is a necessary part of the lives of children and parents alike. "... but it's important to maintain a balance with other activities and quality family time. We know from our extensive work with families that strong relationships with parents build resilience in children, making them less susceptible to bullying or abuse outside the home, and encouraging them to speak to their parents about any fears or concerns," he said

"As well as the conscious effort to cut down on screen-time, some parents benefit from additional support, such as dropping in for a chat or attending some of our family support services, to learn how to better connect with their children," Carberry added.

Further, Herald Scotland reported that the Action for Children published some tips to help parents in this regard. It includes taking time to plan family activities which do not include technology, creating a weekly schedule based on the idea of one hour of technology use equalling to one hour on other activities, recreating favourite childhood games, parents turning off their devices at the same time when children have screen-free time.