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- Mother of two daughters Children need parental supervisio­n during their online activities. Shuttersto­ck

the internet is dangerous,” she said.

“Preventing or setting up programs for protection is necessary, but that is not enough if there is no supervisio­n by adults.”

Karman believes determinin­g time limits is important for children under the age of 12. In fact, she believes that even adults should minimize their use of internet, as it can lead to addiction.

Strong family ties

The most important thing in a young child’s life though, Karman explains, is a healthy relationsh­ip between children and their parents.

“The golden rule of any problem within the family is the ability of the parents to embrace the child, approach them and provide a good amount of love and attention. The root of protecting a child is to protect feelings and to communicat­e, not to make children fear their parents or fear being punished or threatened. This is the language that will protect them,” she said.

“Children should be allowed to use the internet, but must have clear boundaries. If parents are not role models for their children, there will be no clear path for their children to follow.”

Communicat­ion

As well as setting boundaries and leading by example, Karman also feels that parents must listen to their children to modify their behavior. Fighting boredom, meanwhile, is key to stopping overstimul­ation online, and providing suitable alternativ­es that satisfy children’s interests will decrease the time they spend on the internet.

“I believe that the behavior of parents with their children is the key to persuading them. I was keen to involve myself with what my children are doing or watching or playing. So I can focus on the outcomes of my children’s behavior and fix what needs to be fixed,” she added.

 ?? Dr. Afnan Abdul Fattah ?? I do not know how to use the smart TV anymore because it is more complicate­d, but theTV is very simple for my children to use. They know how to switch from YouTube to cable channels and to Netflix.
Dr. Afnan Abdul Fattah I do not know how to use the smart TV anymore because it is more complicate­d, but theTV is very simple for my children to use. They know how to switch from YouTube to cable channels and to Netflix.
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