On June 26, with report card excitement and summer vacation in primary and secondary schools, the time children spend in front of screens has once again come to the agenda. Research Asst. Seher Sav from the Child Development Department, stating that it is not correct to evaluate children's screen use solely based on duration, said, “In the past, when a child played hide-and-seek from morning till night, it wouldn't be called hide-and-seek addiction. However, today, for children who spend a certain amount of time in front of a screen, the term 'screen addict' can easily be used.”
Psychologist Sav, stating that parents should focus on responsibility habits rather than screen time, said, “A child who fulfills their responsibilities spending a long time in front of a screen does not mean they are addicted to technology.”
With the summer vacation, the time children spend in front of screens has once again come to the agenda. Research Asst. Seher Sav from Üsküdar University's Child Development Department made evaluations regarding children's screen use during the summer vacation.
Digital Platforms Have Largely Replaced Streets
Psychologist Seher Sav, reminding that children used to spend their summer vacations playing in the streets with neighborhood friends, said, “Another summer vacation has arrived, just like it has for years. Until recently, summer vacations were enthusiastically welcomed by both children and families. Children would spend their days playing with their friends in the neighborhood and on the streets. However, in recent years, vacations don't seem to be greeted with as much enthusiasm. This is because digital platforms have largely replaced the joyful streets where children gathered with their peers. In response to this situation, families and experts generally address screen use as an addiction problem.”
Children Who Played for Hours Weren't Called Addicted in the Past
Sav stated that children play throughout their development and have strong desires to play, adding, “When their play is hindered, they may exhibit reactions such as anger, frustration, and sometimes aggression. In fact, games, conversations, and moments spent with peers during childhood are generally independent of the concept of time. Children get engrossed in the activity they are doing and don't notice how hours pass. This has been the case throughout history. In the past, when a child played hide-and-seek from morning till night, it wouldn't be called hide-and-seek addiction. However, today, for children who spend a certain amount of time in front of a screen, the term 'screen addict' can easily be used. Therefore, limiting screen time often comes to the forefront as a solution.”
Technology Use Should Be Approached More Realistically
Seher Sav noted that experts' recommendations generally suggest limiting screen time to between 1 and 3 hours per day, adding, “However, many parents experience that these recommendations are not always easy to implement in real life. This issue needs to be approached with a bit more calm and realism. A child's long engagement with any activity does not solely mean they are addicted to that activity. Perhaps the real change is that children who used to play in the streets for hours listened to their parents more easily; today, children in front of screens postpone or ignore their parents' requests more often. For example, a child who used to leave their game to go to the grocery store when their mother asked for bread might not hear their mother's request or might postpone it while in front of a screen today. Immediately labeling this situation as addiction might distract us from the real issue rather than solving it.”
Focus on Responsibility Habits, Not Screen Time
Seher Sav stated that parents should focus on responsibility habits rather than screen time, and continued:
“The issue should be considered not as technology addiction, but through the changes experienced in parent-child relationships and responsibility habits. A child who fulfills their responsibilities spending a long time in front of a screen does not mean they are addicted to technology. It must be accepted that screens play an important role in today's children's understanding of play and entertainment. Completely ignoring screens or trying to remove them entirely from their lives is often not realistic. What is important here is that boundaries are established not solely based on duration, but on responsibilities.”
First Responsibility, Then Enjoyable Activity
Seher Sav stated that when setting screen limits for children, the approach should not be solely time-focused, adding, “Whether it's summer vacation or the school period, the limits we set for children should primarily be related to responsibilities. Doing homework, reading a book, studying for an exam, or completing a section from a holiday workbook might not always be activities children are eager to do. A child returning from school or waking up during summer vacation who goes directly to a screen without fulfilling their responsibilities can easily lose track of time. In this situation, tasks that need to be done are postponed or completely forgotten. Therefore, children should acquire the following habit: First responsibility, then enjoyable activity. During the school period, homework should be done first, and then screens should be used. During summer vacation, planned academic activities should be completed first; for example, a book should be read, a section from the holiday workbook should be done, or a determined number of tests should be solved. After these are completed, the child should be set free.”
Families Should Also Know Who Their Children Interact With in the Digital World
Seher Sav also reminded that screen use is not entirely harmless and continued:
“Of course, there are situations where screens can negatively affect a child's development. Therefore, families should know which digital platforms their children spend time on. Especially in games with online messaging, communication with individuals older than the child can pose a risk. In the past, families used to track who their children played with in the street. Today, it is also necessary to know who children interact with in online environments.”
Family Contract Suggestion for Summer Vacation
Seher Sav stated that summer vacation offers an important opportunity for families experiencing screen-related problems, adding, “Families can hold a short and serious family meeting with their children. During this meeting, joint decisions regarding summer vacation can be made, and even a small summer vacation contract can be prepared. Simply telling children not to look at screens is often not enough. If we do not guide our children in social and academic activities, digital platforms become inevitable. Instead, a summer vacation plan should be presented to them. Daily academic activities can be determined according to the child's age and grade level. For example, after breakfast, reading a book, completing certain pages from a holiday workbook, or doing a short review can be done. It should be clearly told to the child that digital platforms cannot be accessed before these tasks are completed. Families must be firm and not compromise on this matter. When families are consistent and determined, children learn to fulfill their responsibilities over time. Thus, they can both complete their tasks and continue their games and digital activities more enjoyably.”
Don't Label Every New Technological Development as Addiction!
Seher Sav stated that digital technologies are taking up more and more space in our lives every day and will continue to do so, concluding her words by saying, “Therefore, instead of labeling every new technological development as addiction, we should help our children take on their responsibilities and consciously prepare them for this new world.”
