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Screen Devices Make Kids Miserable, While Parents Struggle To Limit Them

By R. Siva Kumar | Update Date: Jan 08, 2016 08:56 AM EST

It's the modern gadget age. Though parents are trying their best to control devices, children are becoming miserable due to the new technology, according to HNGN.

A study on British children said that 23 percent of parents agreed that it was a major challenge to get children "unplug from devices", according to Action For Children (AFC). It was more tiresome than letting children eat healthy (19 percent) or getting them to do their homework (10 percent).

Experts are concerned over the generation of "deeply unhappy children" due to the screen habit. "The pressure to keep up with friends and have the perfect life online is adding to the sadness that many young people feel on a daily basis," said National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) chief Peter Wanless.

NSPCC started a helpline in 1986 and said there has been an increase in the cases of "low self-esteem and bullying, including cyber-bullying". There has also been a shift in the manner in which they counsel children using technology, says NSPCC.

"Technology is an often necessary part of the lives of children and parents alike, but it's important to maintain a balance with other activities and quality family time. We know from our extensive work with families that strong relationships with parents build resilience in children, making them less susceptible to bullying or abuse outside the home, and encouraging them to speak to their parents about any fears or concerns," said AFC managing director Carol Iddon.

Parents are encouraged to get involved in board games, or group activities that could involve the entire family as a team.

Moreover, parents need to be role models for their children and limit their own technology time. Such tips, though, may not work with older children and teenagers, according to Bob Granleese of The Guardian.

He had forced his 11-year-old son to give his father his gadgets during school nights. Even though the boy was mutinous, the father managed it.

But what about the older lot?

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