What To Do When Your Child Is Addicted To Their Ipad

Tablets and phones have taken the place of TV as a way of keeping children distracted and out of your way. Recently, a survey has shown that 1 in 3 children use an iPad even before they are able to speak. Quite an effective way to keep them quiet, until they get hooked and you can’t get them to do anything else. It is absolutely devastating. This article will help you recognize the early indicators of addiction before it is too late and also to provide you with ways to help your child get over the addiction. These have a significant impact on the mental health of young people. Including a potential to affect their sleeping habits.

It can be rightly said that today’s playground is virtual, given the significant part gadgets and the internet play in the lives of this generation. Perhaps, a lot of parents are yet to grasp the extent to which these gadgets, the internet, and social media influence the lives of their kids. At a point, technology and media begin to have more influence over your child than you or anyone else does. When it reaches this extent, taking the gadget away from your child will cause them severe distress. When you notice this happening, then you know that it is time to take the matter very seriously and do something about it.

Children who are not addicted to their iPad may get excited by a variety of other activities. Children who are addicted or are on the verge of addiction will display signs of distress and agitation when their device is taken from them. In this way, you will know that your child has an unhealthy dependence on their device.

The effects are not only limited to agitation and distress, and will also be reflected in other aspects of the child’s behavior including their eating habits, sleeping pattern, and interaction with peers.

Identifying The Signs

1. Lack Of Interest In Other Activities

One major sign that your child is addicted to their device is their total lack of interest in any other activity. As a parent trying to get your child to do fun stuff, especially outdoor activities such as playing at the park or going to the movies, you will notice reluctance on the part of your child.

As the addiction deepens, the child’s behavior will shift from mere reluctance to outright refusal. It will become increasingly harder to tear them away from the device and if you succeed, it won’t last long at all.

2. Constantly Talking About Or Getting Distracted By Technology

Your child will talk about their device all the time and will talk with notable eagerness about things related to the device. It could be games, social media, chats etc. There is always something to talk about regarding their iPad. One sign to look for is that your child is always eager to get back to their device, no matter what it is they are doing. If it is switched off, they will constantly fondle it, longingly.

3. Mood Swings And Confrontational Behavior

If your child becomes addicted, the amount of time they spend on their phone will obviously increase and like every parent is expected to, you will point it out. This might quickly escalate into an argument because the addicted child becomes very sensitive to any concern expressed toward their fixation with the device. A common argument your kid will bring up is that you don’t understand their attachment with their device because you didn’t have one growing up. That might be true to some extent but it doesn’t make their addiction excusable.

4. Withdrawal Symptoms

Observe the child. If they get tense, upset or irritable when they can’t get online or when their device is taken away from them, but visibly relax as soon as they get access, recognize that there is a problem. An addicted child may become angry, anxious, irritable or even aggressive over little things if access to the device is barred. This is a clear sign that action is required. It is not abnormal for a kid to get upset when they are unable to go online, the distinction lies where the kid is unable to get over it and focus on a different thing.

5. Increased Lying And Deception

If your child is addicted or on the brink of addiction, they will make deliberate attempts to conceal the extent to which they use their device. They might go to the extent of hiding it, setting it on silent mode, or using it after bedtime when they should be sleeping. They will avoid questions and conversations pertaining to the use of their device in order to avert attention. Naturally, kids may keep secrets from their parent and claim some space. This is different and less intense than when they are trying to keep you from discovering their addiction. You should make a comparison between the time spent by your kid online or with their gadget and that spent by the kids of your friends or other people you know. Because of the generational gap in relation to technology, all parents have a tendency to hold the opinion that their kid spends too much time on their phone. That is why it helps to make the comparison with other kids by talking to their parents or teachers. If there is a notable difference, a good first step will be to talk to your child about cyber safety and what it is that gets them hooked on their device.

A quite recent study showed that a third of children, check their phone for messages a good number of times per hour, and two-thirds of kids use their devices in bed. In addition, the study showed that the average child owns an average of $1,535 worth of electronic devices.

How To Remedy Your Child’s Addiction

1. The 72-Hour Digital Detox

If your child is showing signs of addiction, there are ways of remedying the situation. One such way is by giving your kid the 72-hour of digital detox.

Don’t be surprised if your child experiences bouts of withdrawal and distress, pretty much like any addict would feel. You handle this situation according to your child’s reaction. You should be able to detect if the kid is going through the above mentioned, seek help if you are not sure what to do.

It will be tempting to succumb to the child’s pleas for their device, especially if they are bawling unceasingly. What you need to do is to try and distract them with some other activity.

2. Provide a Variety of Other Activities

After such time that you find that your child is no longer disturbed by the unavailability or their iPad or other devices, you may reintroduce technology to them with caution and great control. Make sure you provide the child with a range of activities especially physical activities to keep them from falling into the situation of addiction all over again. Also, restrict the time spent using technology. An hour a day won’t be a bad idea. Fill in the gaps with family activities and outdoor themed play-time with peers.

3. Reduce the Amount of Time You Spend On Your Own Device

To help your child get over their addiction, you must serve as an example. Reduce the time you spend focused on your phone and other technological devices. Especially when doing things together with your child or at meal times. The less time they see you spend on their phones, the better. This is because by seeing you using your device, your child will also think that it is okay to use theirs and if they are being prevented from doing so, they might get upset. It also helps not to constantly remind them of their own device and stir a yearning to use it.

To prevent your kid from losing sleep due to the use of their device, make sure to take it away from them at bedtime or nap-time.

With the 72-hour detox or as prescribed by a professional, and a strict restriction on the use of the device afterward, you can help your child get over their addiction.