Parents Are Sending Kids As Young As Five To "Tech Rehab"
Source – A mom has revealed how her 7-year-old son became addicted to computer games with his personality changing so much he now attends a special school. Jake, 9, from Hertfordshire, just north of London, began using an iPad when he was just 5. Around the same time he’d also borrow his older brother’s game consoles.
Jake’s mom, who asked not to be named, told The Sun Online: “His addiction to technology had most definitely caused an erratic change of behavior and it had turned our lives upside down. We didn’t think twice about him playing these games, or playing on apps from our family iPad, until it was too late.”
“It got to the stage where he was playing on his games console and tablet for at least six hours a day, consistently, without a break, except to eat and drink in the school holidays, and not much less than that when he was back at school.”
The couple’s story comes as it was revealed children as young as 12 are being treated for technology addiction at The Nightingale Hospital in London.
His mom explained: “When trying to get him off of his games console, or the tablet, it would be incredibly difficult. He would kick off, scream and shout. In the end, his mom realized she could no longer control him. “I stood in my kitchen in tears, and knew we, as a family, needed to change because we simply just couldn’t carry on the way we were going because one of us would have broken down.”
Now at a special school, things are improving. He’s been there for two years and has strict rules about the amount of time he can spend on tech – maximum an hour a day, and only for educational purposes.
He is allowed on a console or iPad for brief periods if he’s been good during the week, something his mom and dad wish they’d put in place from the start.
While Jake’s behavior has now dramatically improved, many kids are still struggling.
London charity PAARS (Parent Abuse and Reconciliation Service) helps parents and carers who suffer abuse from kids, and has seen a rise in kids becoming addicted to tech.
“Children are turning aggressive and taking their anger out on their parents, and smashing walls or doors to vent their frustration at not being allowed access to their digital devices because they are so ‘addicted’.”
Are we weaning the kid off heroin or an iPad? Jesus Christ. He’s FIVE. Put it on top of the fridge and send him outside. He’ll be over it in five minutes.
I genuinely don’t understand the thought process behind sending children to rehab. Imagine how much it costs? Mom and dad are shelling out college prices to keep their kid from playing Crash Bandicoot. Unreal. I hope it benefits him but chances are it’ll only fuck him up more. No chance he comes back a well-adjusted young man. If anything, he’ll be worse than before. Just like George Jung.
As a twenty-eight year single gay man am I allowed to give parenting advice? No? Okay, I’m going to keep going. You’ve got a few options here:
Option 1- Establish physical dominance. Five year olds are what, like forty-five pounds soaking wet? You don’t need to hit him, just scare him a little. Toss him something heavy and watch his struggle.
Option 2- Bribe him. “Honey if you behave you’ll get a surprise.” It’s the oldest trick in the book.
Option 3- Distraction. “Look out the window there’s a bear!” He’ll forget iPads even exist.
There goes Pat, solving the UK’s youth technology addiction problem again.
PS,
All that said, “tech” (phone) addiction is DEFINITELY real. I’m one hundred percent addicted. I sleep next to it, go to the gym with it, rest it on the counter when I shower, it’s ridiculous. Always closing out and opening apps. I can’t leave the house with out it. I can feel the blindness and carpal tunnel setting as we speak. It’s going to be wild to see what kind of shape our generation is in in twenty years. Come to think of it maybe it’s a good thing they’re catching it early.