After reading the title most of the parents will laugh out and will ask if there are any possibilities to control children’s usage of mobile. Keeping children in the discipline of using mobile sounds like an impossible task.
But the answer is ‘YES’. Children can be disciplined in using mobile.
You just have some patience and consistence practice.
If possible try to find out why they take mobile more often.
Related Topic- Why Do Children Take Mobile? Are They Addicted?
When you are working with kids, keep in mind that they are kids, not the machines that work on our commands. Try to make your conversation light in mood while dealing with them and be empathetic.
Here, are some points to follow in your daily routine.
1) Friendly environment
Make your home environment friendly in such a way that your child can share their emotion without hesitating. It makes them feel secure.
It will help to improve their behavior and eventually, they will listen to you carefully. Make your child comfortable for every possible conversation.
In particular, it is a little tough to deal with adolescent because of their sensitive age. It is tricky to stay discipline of using mobile for them.
And by making your home environment healthy and friendly make them comfortable while talking to you. The more they talk the more you get the chance to dig deep into their mind.
The friendly environment of the home gives them a chance to explore and also helps you to build a strong relationship.
You may like to read – 11 best ways to boost confidence in the child
2) Listen to the Child Carefully and Start a Conversation
Listening is the basic rule for parenting. Through it, you can see what happens in your child’s life and what they are thinking about.
To keep discipline for mobile, listening to your child makes a bridge between you and your child.
You can understand their feeling. You have to just start a conversation, and in this conversation, your main focus should be on listening to your child.
Then you should tell them about your concern and present your pain point with conviction. After listening to them show your concern and your perspective which gives your child the answer to why you are not giving them more screen time.
3) Do not Yell, Slap or Scold Them
Screaming and yelling at your child is forever forbidden, and so is slapping and scolding.
This kind of reaction of yours makes your conversation worse and the result would be zero. When you get angry with your child you almost lose control of yourself and can not get the desired result.
Even after some time, they would ignore your words because it would not affect them and worsen the situation.
So, yelling or slapping is a big no. Remind yourself whenever you get angry that your anger never gets you the result you want. Punishment has an adverse effect on children which affects their entire personality and life.
Punishment, yelling, and scolding never keep your child disciplined for using mobile. It only causes conflict between you and your child and spoils your relationship with your child.
You may like to read – 10 best ways to improve family bonding
4) Plan Gadget Time with Boundaries
It is best to plan gadget time, which means how much time they are allowed to have gadgets and at what time.
Plan gadget time with boundaries to make everything easy for you and your child. You can put a timer for it. If you are dealing with a young child make sure you set boundaries with all the empathy towards them.
Use a calm tone and watch your words. Children are more likely to follow your words when you deal with them with all the respect and love.
To deal with adolescents and teenagers make more efforts as they become a little more rebellious. you have to ask them how much time they want to play. Set realistic boundaries to make it sustainable.
The boundary must be firm and consistent.
Also, explain to your child why are you setting these boundaries and their importance. Let them understand the reason behind your action.
Boundaries make them a little organized in their daily routine and gradually they will come under discipline.
It will take some time and will not happen overnight. Keep patience and be consistence in your actions.
5) Enjoy Family Gadget Time
There should be a time in your routine, once a week or once a fortnight when you enjoy a family gadget time together.
Where every family member gathers and watches movies or TV shows together. Make it more fun by adding a Vote for the show or movie, or some kind of competition to make it interesting. This way you can make your family time more enjoyable.
But make sure that this time must be playful and enjoyable for your child otherwise they will disengage in between and the purpose of the family time will not succeed.
This will make them connected and they can engage more with you because children will see that you are enjoying gadgets exactly like them.
You can show interest in your child’s favorite topic over the internet to choose for family gadget time as it also creates a sense of togetherness.
6) Spent some Gadget-Free Time Together
Gadget-free time is as important as family gadget time.
Spending quality time together creates a strong bond between family members where each member is away from any kind of gadget for some time.
Play together Outdoor or Indoor) or do some activity where everyone can take part.
This time will be the unforgettable memories for your child to reminisce.
You may like to read – How much a family vacation is important
7) plan gadget time for yourself
Children are do modelling. Sometime they just copying us and if you ask to drop the mobile off, they answered you in no time. “Why should I drop the mobile off when you are using it with no limitations.”
They deny to do so because they are just modelling parents.
Maybe you have some pending work on it or the other reason but they will not understand.
So, make your schedule almost fixed to use mobile or another gadget. Eventually they understand and start doing model. This way you can keep your child in discipline of using mobile.
Note- To keep them in discipline it should be take time and not happen overnight. You can also ask for support from your family members.
As they are too young to understand the situation, in the beginning they deny to follow your rules and maybe disobey you. At that moment keep your voice in mild tone. Let them explain their feelings and start the conversation again.
You may like to read – How to create environment awareness in child
I hope you would like the article and may be little helpful too. In this time where we are surrounded by gadget and the mobile is being essential it is important for both parents and children to make dicipline of using mobile.
If you find useful in this article please share it with others to help them to make their parenting beautiful.