Turn the semester break into a digital detox

Children's use of digital devices is increasing. Family communication is decreasing. Families complain that children do not play enough games with their friends and cannot socialize. Stating that the semester break will be an opportunity for both children and parents to spend time together, experts suggest a digital detox. "Digital detox is not a method to be applied only to the child at home," experts say, "The family can make such a decision and implement it together. This time interval should be filled with many enjoyable activities, sports and art activities."

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Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Child Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said that the semester break should be seen as an important opportunity for children and families to spend time together.

Stating that the semester break can be a suitable time for the family and the child to visit relatives, have a short winter holiday getaway or spend time together, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "It is important to take advantage of such opportunities, especially in today's society where excessive attachment to digital devices is increasing in children."

Stating that digital devices can be found in every child's life, provided that they are used under reasonable conditions and in a positive sense, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "The main point here is to use these tools at a level that does not harm the child in terms of time and content. If the family cannot set limits on this issue, the child's only source of entertainment and satisfaction becomes computer games, youtube videos or virtual media. As a result, the child's social skills, academic success and mental health are negatively affected. Families should be models for children and teach them that digital devices are only a small part of life."

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Stating that children with a limited social environment, fewer visits to relatives and children living with busy working parents are more inclined to fall under the influence of digital devices, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "For this reason, families should plan small getaways at every opportunity and let children experience that there are many other areas to enjoy in life."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten stated that in environments where the use of technology is not limited, children can be completely immersed in the internet environment and lose control in terms of time and content, and warned that "School success, peer relations and long-term social skills may be damaged".

Emphasizing that digital detox is not a method to be applied only to the child at home, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "The family can make such a decision and apply it together. Of course, provided that this time interval is filled with many enjoyable activities, sports and art activities."

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Stating that the use of digital devices will not cause any problems if they have a limited place in the family's life and focus on making life easier such as entertainment, information, communication, banking transactions, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "If the use goes beyond our control and the content turns into harmful issues, there is a problem."

Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "Exceeding the time limit means that the child cannot get up from the game, the only thing he enjoys in his life is computer games, and he starts to disrupt his homework, lessons and social environment. Before the child becomes like this, families should impose time limitations on their children and check them regularly."

Noting that it is important to prevent games that contain aggression and violence in terms of content or negative content that is harmful to children's mental health, Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said that it is appropriate for families to take security measures in this regard and to warn and inform their children about these issues.

Emphasizing that parents should be a model for their children with their own behaviors regarding the use of digital devices, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten said, "They should pay attention to behaviors such as unlimited internet use, ignoring social interaction and spending all their time in front of the phone, constantly playing games."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emel Sarı Gökten listed the things to be done about digital detox as follows:

"The family should set a time limit with the child regarding the amount of time spent on the Internet or playing games, both during the week and at weekends, and the child should be asked to pay attention to this, but it is still appropriate for the parents to maintain control.

Parents should take the necessary precautions against content that is harmful to children and inform their children about the dangers of such content.

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The family should buy games that can be played at home to spend time together (backgammon, backgammon, chess, lego, etc.), and family members should get together to play games in leisure time and interact with each other.

At appropriate times, the family should go out together, visit friends and relatives, and maintain interaction and conversation during these activities.

Parents should have some hobbies and pursuits for themselves, support their children in sports or artistic activities, and try to include activities they can enjoy in their lives."