How a Digital Detox Could Change Your Child’s Life
By Movieguide® Contributor
One of the best ways to break the hold technology has on our kids is through a digital detox, which allows their brains to reset and find enjoyment away from a screen.
But what exactly is a digital detox?
VeryWell Mind defines it as “a period of time when a person refrains from using tech devices such as smartphones, televisions, computers, tablets, and social media sites.”
It has major benefits for kids.
“What you’re actually doing is you’re resetting your kids’ dopamine levels, because when they’re scrolling, when they’re playing, when they’re tapping, their dopamine levels in their brains are exceptionally high,” Molly DeFrank, author of Digital Detox: The Two Week Tech Reset for Kids, and mother of six told CBN.
“Real life can’t compare. That’s why they’re complaining with boredom but when you give them this two-week window to reset their levels back down to normal life,” DeFrank continued. “You’re giving them time to rekindle a love of real-life activities.”
DeFrank has found that many parents already place proper boundaries around their children’s tech usage, however, without an initial tech fast, the hold of dopamine is too strong.
READ MORE: HOW TO HELP YOUR KIDS LIMIT THEIR SCREEN TIME
“Once you kind of get that calibrated and right for your kids and your family, you should be good for a while but there have been families where it’s gotten out of place again and they’ve done another detox and this is great,” DeFrank said.
“Pretty much every parent who’s reported results back to me has said their kids get along better, they find real-life productive hobbies, and they’re happier, and their mental health is better. It’s just across the board been beneficial to these kids,” she continued.
Dr. Axe offers a few practical steps to start a digital detox for you or your kids:
- Set clear boundaries
- Start small
- Use digital wellness tools
- Create tech-free zones
- Engage in alternative activities
- Turn off notifications
- Go screen-free for a day
- Seek support
While a digital detox is beneficial for any age, it is especially potent for younger users as their brains are more sensitive to chemicals like dopamine. This is the reason why addictions form more easily in younger brains as they feel the highs and lows of dopamine more intensely.
READ MORE: HERE’S HOW CUTTING SCREEN TIME IN HALF CHANGED ONE TEEN’S LIFE
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +1