Screen obsession has children feeling left out
PARENTS guilty of putting their head down to check social media, send a few texts or read their emails have been shamed by a new report, which says their digital addiction is causing big problems for their children.
The report, which was launched by the Queensland government, reveals thousands of children across the state are stressed by school work and crave extra attention from parents, who are often consumed in their phone.
The landmark survey, which spoke with 7000 children aged from 4–18, shows far too many are feeling ignored by their parents because of their technology use.
According to the study, the vast majority of what child participants told the survey is that they are wanting “adults to pay attention, have respectful conversations, and listen to what they have to say about the things important to them”.
“They are asking parents to put their phones down and to interact with them,” the paper, sent to news.com.au, read.
Speaking to news.com.au, child psychologist Dr Justin Coulson said when parents used their phones around children, they were offering “partial attention at best”.
“Kids need their parents’ focus. It’s how we show them we love them,” he told news. com.au. “While we stare at screens they interpret that to mean that they are less important than Facebook or email.
“If we do it often enough, that partial attention becomes a source of stress. We’ve got good quality studies that show our partial attention impacts relationships negatively, reduces sense of belonging, and leads to feelings of exclusion.”