CHILDREN’S ADDICTION ON THE DIGITAL WORLD: REASONS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

% of children and young people all over the world are offi cially diagnosed with addiction. To identify the reasons of the children’s gadgets addiction this research was conducted as a part of the educational activities of the Family, Women, and Children Affairs Committee and the Committee on Education and Science of the public organization “The sovereign course” with participation of teachers and psychologists: Frolova O.S., Fakhrieva O.N., Konoshenko K.N. The research surveys and interviews were conducted with  groups: students of a general education school aged from  to  and their families (parents, siblings and immediate family members). In a secondary school, an observation was made among th and th graders for  months in order to identify adolescents’ dependence on phones. Based on the results of all types of research, the problem of addiction to gadgets and its reasons were identifi ed, and steps to overcome this addiction were developed. Parents’ awareness of the illusory perception of the reasons for children’s gadget addiction and the ways how to solve this problem. The necessity to show to a child a cause-and-effect relationship of the gadget addiction and the idea that it is their growth point which is important to let them live a real life. The lack of quality relationships in families has led to teenagers’ smartphone addiction. () If a family realizes their goals, traditions and there are healthy relationships between parents and good quality time together, children do not go into gadgets. () Children’s gadget addiction is formed by parents focusing on their career, not giving necessary attention to their children. In order to treat their children’s addiction to gadgets parents should () support the interests of the kids, help them fi nd answers to any questions, and () to take into account the child’s individuality and strengths.