The real adventures are offline

Children spend four hours a day in front of their smartphones. During the holidays, this time of use can increase massively. In order to avoid this, the city of Linz wants to sensitize and with the Institute of Addiction Prevention. But the topic is not only a child’s topic – parents are also affected. Double even. On the one hand from the period of use, on the other hand in their role as a role model.

Self -critical look

Health City Councilor Michael Raml (FP) tells self -critically that a look at his smartphone was often the first and last of the day. “Write an email quickly, quickly read a message to annoy and then fall asleep – and then look back on the smartphone in the morning.”

Dramatic effects

This realization has made him use an analog alarm clock. But with many children this self -critical look is naturally missing. This leads to this, says Rainer Schmidbauer from the Institute for Addiction Prevention Upper Austria, that many children often “stick” and play on their smartphone until late at night. The effects of this excessive screen time can have serious consequences: isolation, sleep disorders, eye loads, reduced ability to frustrate, increased risk of mental illnesses, depression and anxiety.

“Offline is the new adventure”

The health campaign of the city of Linz, who warning health campaign is called “Offline is the new adventure – cell phone -free vacation for our children”. One of the reasons for the necessity is that since May 1st this year the pupils (up to the 8th school level) have to hand in their smartphones at school. This regulation falls again during the holidays. Children and adolescents therefore have unrestricted access to their addictive smartphone – if there is no regulation in the parents’ house. “The holiday season should be a time of relaxation, discovering and real experiences – and no extension of the screen time,” says Raml.

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