The Dopamine High: Addressing Digital Addiction in Children with Strategies from ‘iParent’ | Neha Jhalani Hiranandani
In an age where screens are ubiquitous, children's susceptibility to digital addiction is an increasing concern for parents worldwide. The instant gratification and "dopamine high" associated with digital activities such as gaming can lead to addictive behaviours, impacting mental health, social skills, and academic performance. Neha Jhalani Hiranandani, in her groundbreaking book "iParent," tackles this pressing issue with actionable strategies, aiming to guide parents through the maze of digital parenting.
The basis of the combat of digital addiction with kids by Neha Jhalani Hiranandani is in unravelling the key reasons for digital attractions. Online games, social media, and other digital platforms get appreciated by their users due to the instant gratification feeling, hence, encouraging the release of dopamine—a neurotransmitter related to pleasure and satisfaction. Such a phenomenon is associated with a strong biochemical reaction that makes the digital experience highly addictive, especially for children and adolescents.
To solve this, "iParent" highlights one of the necessary steps which is giving up on the idea of a balanced digital diet for kids. According to Hiranandani, the idea is to create limits for screen time, digital activities being just one important aspect of multifaceted involvement. Drugs may be attractive to teenagers due to their dopamine-releasing qualities. Hence, kids must be encouraged to participate in separate activities like sports, reading, and arts that can diversify their sources of dopamine.
Also, Hiranandani stresses the importance the open dialogues about the content nature of digital effects. Educating children about how digital platforms are purposefully built to capture their attention can help them make rational and better-informed choices. Such alertness, and alternative activities that stimulate dopamine like making your own choices or figuring out something new, and having real face-to-face conversations play a key role in overcoming the lure of the screen.
"iParent" brings forward a positive reinforcement role in the issue of digital addiction too. Celebrating accomplishments offline and providing a sort of place where kids feel valued aside from being digital persons or personas will lead them to rely even less on screens for them to feel good about themselves.
Basically, "iParent" serves the purpose of providing a bigger picture to the parents to enable them to make the right decisions. By unlocking the secret of the dopamine-driven switch of digital addiction, building a balanced life, and releasing open dialogue, parents can provide their children with the tools that serve them to cope with the digital world safely and mindfully.
Comments
Post a Comment