GADGET HYGIENE: AN OUTLOOK TOWARDS GOOD PARENTING
- Pratyasha Foundation
- May 9
- 4 min read
Updated: May 12
Yes, you read that right; “gadget hygiene” it is! It might seem like a fancy term, but
responsible parents, who “fancy” sound health for their young ones, really need to get out
of the closet. The question is not about being indifferent; rather, it is about knowing what
seems to be unknown. Don’t worry, I have made things simpler by preparing a checklist of
what you need to be on the lookout for.
Red flags that indicate your child’s over-indulgence in gadgets and handheld devices:
The child seems more comfortable amongst virtual (online) friends than real ones.
Gets irritated, anxious if his/her time online is interrupted or curtailed.
Shows diminished interest in other activities, even those that s/he once used to
enjoy.
Is secretive about his/her internet usage.
Prefers to be alone; withdraws from family and friends.
Common and troubling scenarios:
A toddler of three years, having limited knowledge about language and
communication, is glued to you tube videos for the major part of the day; parents,
on the other hand, carry on with their daily routines.
A child aged eleven comes back from school and starts playing with gadgets, while
his homework remains pending. He refuses to let go of the device even during
supper, and does not go out to play.
A teenager wanting to spend most of the time in her room, cuddled with her smart
phone; she does not interact much with parents, as she is too engrossed chatting
over WhatsApp.
Gadget Hygiene: need of the hour
Gadget hygiene, much like physical and emotional hygiene, requires regulation and upkeep
in order to prevent the technology’s misuse. Following are some ways to keep a tab on
indiscreet use of phones:
Presenting a smart phone to your child…is not a smart choice, dear parents.
A mobile phone is intended to keep us in touch with our children, especially when
they step out for tuitions or travel alone. The face value of the phone, whether or
not it is an “iPhone,” should not be underscored; instead it should be used as any
other commodity of daily use.
Keeping smart phones out of bedrooms...is a smart choice, dear parents.
There is scientific evidence that the light emitted by gadgets hinders the release of
melatonin in the brain, thereby causing interference in the sleep cycle. A phone “out
of sight” ensures that the child gets a good night’s sleep, essential for his/her
development.
A reading zone “disconnected” with the smart phone...is a smart choice, dear
parents.
Cell phones or laptops should not accompany your child’s studies unless necessary
for gathering information. Make this your rule of thumb. Parents should avoid
getting seen with a smartphone in their hands all the time. Kids might insist on its
use for listening to music or connecting with their friends, but they should be wisely
dissuaded and optimally allotted a separate time for breaks in-between studies.
Dining with phones as “appetizers” ... is not a smart choice, dear parents.
During lunch, or dinner, whatever the setting may be, parents need to put gadgets
aside. Food tends to be much relished and well savoured in the absence of gadgets;
it will be difficult, otherwise, to discipline children especially because children mimic
elders’ actions.
Gadgets in the “common room” ...a choice to be exercised with caution.
Access to laptops or the Internet may be provided under your supervision. Projects
or homework need no “confidentiality” or secrecy for their completion. We should
realise that ninety percent of the world wide web, i.e. the dark web, “hides” in plain
sight and is replete with drug peddlers, impersonators, black marketers, hackers,
terrorists, hit men and those involved in pornography, who can lure the innocent
and reflect badly on the child’s psyche.
Fingers for a piano; not for talking with the screen...indeed a smart choice.
Children need to exercise their limbs. Even if friends are not around, they may go for
a run, ride a bicycle, or indulge in any physical activity. The time is ripe for
reinventing the cultivation of reading habits, playing board games, and solving
crossword puzzles, rather than staring at the abyss of the gadget screen. But, young
parents, it has been observed, don’t want to—ably—handle their kids’ tantrums and
restlessness, whether it be at the doctor’s clinic, the grocery store, or while
travelling, and—in a desperate attempt—try to instil calmness by granting them
access to phones. Instead, the children should be taught how to keep themselves
occupied; a counting activity, a good book, a bedside story, or answering their
inquisitiveness—are all possible options. Parents should not stifle, but rather
encourage the child’s observational skills and creativity.
How it works: If the Internet Abuse Test (IAT) highlights six or more warning signs of internet
abuse, and you consider the problem to be severe, then you should take the Virtual
Addiction Test (VAT), as mentioned below. If your answer is “yes” to five or more questions,
then you may be suffering from internet addiction.
1. Do you feel "out of control" while using the Internet; e.g., feeling "carried away"?
2. When not using the Internet, do you find that you are preoccupied with the Internet or
computers (e.g., thinking about or reliving past experiences on the Internet, planning your
next experience on the Internet, or thinking of ways to gain access to the Internet in the
future)?
3. Do you find that you need to spend a greater amount of time on the Internet to attain
satisfaction which is similar to previous events?
4. Do you find yourself seeking more sexually stimulating material in order to achieve the
same result as previously?
5. Have you repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop using the Internet?
6. Do you find yourself to be restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop using
the Internet?
7. Are you using the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or relieving a bad mood
(e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety or depression)?
8. After spending what you consider an excessive amount of time on the Internet and
vowing not to do so the next day, do you find yourself back online the next day or soon
after?
9. Do you find yourself lying to family members, therapists or others to conceal the extent of
your involvement with the Internet?
10. Do you find yourself committing illegal acts related to your use of the Internet?
