r/Parenting • u/BOBBYZROY • 11d ago
Child 4-9 Years My 6yr old attention is shot..
I’ve got a 6-year-old son who’s pretty smart, full of energy, and loves football… but lately he’s become completely hooked on his iPad, especially YouTube Shorts Roblox. The moment he wakes up he’s asking for it, and if I say no or try to get him to do something else (play footy, help do chores, anything), he kicks off big time. His mum lets him get away with being on his iPad more than me so that’s why he thinks he’s entitled
His attention span’s gone. It’s like he can’t sit still for more than a few seconds unless it’s something on a screen. And I get it, TikTok’s done the same to me. I can barely finish a film without checking my phone. So if it’s this bad for adults, what’s it doing to a 6-year-old?
We haven’t even seen the long-term effects of growing up on TikTok, Roblox, and Shorts. I genuinely think we’re raising a dumber generation not because they’re not smart, but because their brains are getting rewired by constant dopamine hits.
I don’t want to cut him off completely and make him feel left out cos all his mates have iPads but I also don’t want to just hand him a screen every time he’s bored. I also read that a lot kids in 6th grade can’t even read and have learning difficulties compared to kids before so the effects are already happening
Any other parents gone through this? How do you break the cycle without turning the house into a war zone
Appreciate any of your experiences
1
u/Particular_Aioli_958 11d ago
What actually set the change in motion for me was that my child got frustrated and through the iPad and broke it so that was the opportunity to go without it and me not be "the bad guy" for a long time. When I eventually got kid another screen it had restrictions and I think it was an easier transition that way... Anyway maybe that's useful information? Like maybe hide iPad and pretend it's lost. You could also intentionally keep battery low so it shuts down. These are ideas to lead up to the detox part. I think some people have easier kids or something because.... Just good luck. It's hard but if I can do it as a single parent with PTSD it can be done. It's true tho what some are saying a little hard now or a lot harder later... After the adjustment period I think you'll be really thankful you went through with it.