Don't panic - five ways to stop your kids' endless scrolling

Don't panic - five ways to stop your kids' endless scrolling By Emer Moreau, Business reporter If you're a parent, you may have breathed a sigh of relief - or perhaps frustration - at the UK government's plans to introduce an overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds. The proposal would make apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube unavailable by default for those teenagers, although they would be able to opt out of the curfew if they wish. Features the authorities deem addictive – auto‑play videos and infinite scrolling – would also be disabled under the plan, which aims to improve teenagers' focus, sleep quality and family life. We asked several parenting experts for their tips on how to prise those phones from their children's hands – even if only for a short while. **1. Start small and be realistic** Many parents who have already given their children tablets or smartphones might wonder whether the best course is simply to get rid of them. However, child scientist Dr Jane Gilmour believes that may not be the most productive option. "Changing a wont is ever going to beryllium hard," she says. Instead, she recommends implementing changes at a neutral moment, not in the heat of an argument about screen time. "Calm brains pass best." A sensible first step to reducing screen time could be designating a specific spot in the home for devices, such as a particular cupboard. "Have 1 spot for chargers... truthful erstwhile the phones spell away, they spell connected the charger and that's it." Older children and teenagers can benefit from being part of the conversation about screen time, rather than having rules imposed on them, says child scientist Dr Maryhan Baker. "I recognize that that's wherever you link with your friends. I recognize the societal unit if you're deemed not to beryllium connected this. I truly get it. " "So let's person a speech astir however we tin statesman to make abstraction wrong our day, and your time wherever you're not connected that telephone each of the time." Parenting manager Olivia Edwards adds that building a strong relationship with your child or teen will make it easier to moderate screen use. "We person to person a beardown narration with our kid due to the fact that that is what's going to get america towards co-operation [and] teamwork." This could involve taking a genuine interest in the content your child consumes online. **3. Turn screen time into learning opportunities** Many parents feel they are struggling to keep up with the rapidly changing fads and trends on social media. Yet there is an opportunity for both adults and children to learn from each other through frank discussions about screen time. Olivia says: "You mightiness accidental thing like: 'How bash you deliberation societal media works? How bash you deliberation that app works to support radical looking astatine it? Did you cognize they marque wealth disconnected the much clip radical walk connected it?'" Jane also says parents can teach their children digital literacy in a hands‑on way. "There mightiness beryllium contented that you tin look astatine unneurotic and say, 'OK, bash you deliberation that that is true? How would I fig retired if that's existent oregon not?'" It is no secret that children mimic their parents, so encouraging healthy screen habits in them may need to begin with some self‑reflection. Maryhan encourages a light‑hearted approach. "Even if we conscionable bash a somewhat self-deprecating speech with our kids, like: 'We're each blameworthy of this, I'm not arsenic large connected my narration with [my phone] arsenic I could be.'" Phones and tablets have provided people of all ages with an ever‑present source of entertainment, but Jane says that adults and children could benefit from embracing boredom a little more. "Being connected the screen, it keeps america looking astatine the outer world. When we spell into our interior satellite and we benignant of look into space, into the mediate distance, it allows america to deliberation astir the past, it allows america to visualise the future, it predicts creativity. "So erstwhile your kids are protesting [that] there's thing to do, they're conscionable staring into abstraction - that's OK. And really that's a affirmative thing." Parenting has never been easy, but raising children in an era where screens are everywhere, while we are still learning how they affect us, can be particularly worrying. Dr Tony Sampson, a scholar in digital communication at the University of Essex, says parents should not fall into the trap of moral panic. "There is simply a inclination for anxious parents to go caught up successful a prevailing media panic and spot each teen brains arsenic simply hardwired for societal media addiction," helium says. "But children and teenagers person what's called neuroplasticity – their brains are amended astatine adapting and bouncing backmost than adults' brains." "We work a batch astir the ways successful which societal media erodes attention," helium says. "[But] societal media does not shorten oregon erode attention. It captures it and diverts it toward engagement with commercialized content." "Positive technological usage tin assistance boost neuroplasticity for creativity, exploration and learning." Are you a parent who is anxious about screen time? Have you taken steps to address the issue with your children?