From the UK Independent:
Children as young as 13 attending 'smartphone rehab' as concerns grow over screen time
Children refusing to put down their phones is a common flashpoint in many homes, with a third of British children aged 12 to 15 admitting they do not have a good balance between screen time and other activities.
But in the US, the problem has become so severe for some families that children as young as 13 are being treated for digital technology addiction.
One ‘smartphone rehab’ centre near Seattle has started offering residential “intensive recovery programs” for teenagers who have trouble controlling their use of electronic devices.
The Restart Life Centre says parents have been asking it to offer courses of treatment to their children for more than eight years.
It must be very tempting for a parent to use a device as a digital babysitter but they are doing incredible damage to their kid. Mental development requires diverse stimulation and play, focusing on a flat screen is not a substitute.
The reSTART website is here: reSTART. They have one program that lasts for nine to twelve months. I can not imagine anyone so addicted to digital devices that they need that amount of time to decouple. The fact that they list it on their website shows that there is a need for that service. How could the parents have let their kid get so far down the rabbit hole.
Leave a comment