UAE-based parents share their views on children using mobile phones

Gulf News

Parents based in the UAE explain why mobile phone use among children should be controlled.  Read the full story here: https://gulfnews.com/special-reports/mobile-phone-addiction-brain-changes-sleep-trouble-mood-swings-spotted-in-children-1.1690299156367  Subscribe to Gulf News on YouTube and watch more of our videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/GulfNewsTV  See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km  #UAEnews #addiction #mobilephones

Transcript

00:00In a school setting these days, children as young as year one are being exposed to digital

00:13tablets.

00:14These digital tablets, in my opinion, can play a very valuable role if introduced and

00:18implemented in a way that supplements and facilitates the children's education.

00:24However, when it comes to mobile smartphones, I really do not see the value nor understand

00:29the need for them to be allowed for use at any point in time during school hours and

00:34in a school environment.

00:36And that's for a variety of reasons.

00:38The first being the lack of concentration and distraction that a mobile phone will cause

00:42in a classroom setting.

00:44The second is, if you look at any of the research, is the deterioration we see in academic performance

00:49in students.

00:51The third being the isolation socially of the student that is overusing the phone.

00:56Mobile smartphones often act as a platform for cyberbullying.

01:01The misuse of phones, either through taking videos or photos in settings such as classrooms,

01:06changing rooms, toilets, gyms, so forth, can really lead to very unfavorable outcomes.

01:13And so based on this, when we look at countries that have banned or enforced strict controls

01:17on mobile phones, such as China, France, Australia, just to name a few, we've seen a direct improvement

01:24in academic performance, but also a decline in bullying.

01:28And this is the sort of outcome we want to see across the board.

01:32Now when it comes to technology, it's going to be an essential aspect of every student's

01:36life, and we have to accept that.

01:38What I think is important is not only enforcing controls, but also education.

01:43And as parents, I think it's very important that it starts with us, that we model the

01:48behavior that we want to see.

01:52When I come to think of my children, I sometimes feel that it was good that they have phones

01:57with them in school, but my kids' school also does not allow phones.

02:02At times, I kind of prefer that they have a phone with them, but maybe not a smartphone,

02:08but a phone that they can use for communicating, just a normal phone with a SIM that can be

02:14used only for conversations, not taking pictures or not taking any WhatsApp or digital social

02:21media, but just a phone could help.

02:25But again, the children have to be taught to be prudent or to use those phones or be

02:32more responsible with these technologies.

02:34Times are different.

02:36When I grew up, things were different.

02:37Today's age is different.

02:39So yeah, today I would think that a normal phone, not a smartphone, or some way of communicating

02:47with the child is important.

02:51I must say kudos to Holland for what they've done by curbing cell phones in the classroom.

02:59They do not belong there.

03:00I think that that law could not be more strict.

03:03I am in total agreement with it.

03:06In fact, I often leave mine and I get in trouble with my wife for leaving it at home because

03:12there are times when I need to simply get away and not be bothered and not be influenced

03:17and not be on and on and on.

03:19So school, especially our kids, I think we're very fortunate that they're not too addicted

03:25to video games and everything else that these devices can be used for.

03:32And we try, my wife and I, make an effort to keep our kids away from it and give them

03:37other options away from their phone.

03:40Nothing infuriates me more than being out to dinner and seeing a table of four and they're

03:45all on their cell phone.

03:46Nobody's talking to each other.

03:50So again, kudos to Holland and I hope more countries will follow suit.

03:57A ban on the use of electronic devices in the classroom, except for under certain circumstances.

04:02I have to say that as a parent, I do agree with that decision.

04:06Mobile phones in the classroom can cause unnecessary distractions that can negatively impact academic

04:13performance.

04:14Banning or controlling the use of mobile phones in the classroom can foster a respectful and

04:19focused learning environment and similar to the etiquette of not using mobile phones during

04:26social gatherings, it can generally be expected that students should prioritize their attention

04:31on educational activities taking place in the classroom.

04:35By setting clear boundaries and expectations regarding the use of electronic devices, students

04:40are encouraged to develop discipline and self-regulation skills, which are great skills

04:45to acquire.

04:48In my own opinion, I believe that giving my children or my kids a phone is really wasting

04:56this time.

04:57We have less skills of communication, so I prefer always to encourage them to do skills

05:03such as physical skills, such as swimming, art, so many things.

05:09It is our desire to be banned at a certain age, maybe when they go to school later on,

05:15they are going to be more used to it and using it properly.

Category

Transcript

Recommended