Fostering Quality Presence to Break the Digital Loop
In an era where children often master touchscreens before learning to tie their shoelaces, excessive device usage has become an alarming norm. Addressing this digital challenge, mental health expert Dr. Bui Phuong Thao from the Mai Huong Daytime Psychiatric Hospital shared vital insights on reshaping family tech habits during a highly attended public seminar.
Data indicates that children heavily emulate parental behavior, yet they successfully differentiate between a parent working online and one browsing for entertainment. To set a positive example, experts advise parents to isolate their entertainment device usage away from their children and strictly confine smartphone activity to necessary professional tasks while at home.
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"If you are present without a device for just 20 minutes, a child feels you played with them all evening, but sitting near them for three hours while holding a phone leaves them feeling ignored," Dr. Thao explained. She emphasized that breaking the digital loop requires consistent parental willpower and replacing screen time with engaging real-world invitations like reading or outdoor walks.
The discussion also introduced the book "The Wonderful Generation," a curated guide designed for youth aged 9 to 16 and their families. The publication explores real-life narratives of teenagers reflecting on time lost to social media, providing families with actionable frameworks to foster self-discovery and balanced technological growth.