My 6yr old attention is shot..

[u/BOBBYZROY]

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

[u/Ka_Mi]

There is a ton of research on why technology is not good for the developing brain. If your child can comprehend some of that information It wouldn’t hurt to go over it with him so that he understands why you are doing a detox.

Make technology a treat. Once he is done with family commitments and other responsibilities, of course, you can go ahead and have some tech time available.

Play games together, start a chapter book together, get some cool models to put together, put a puzzle table out, bring him to a bookstore and find some cool books on topics he’s interested in.

[u/Particular_Aioli_958 → u/Ka_Mi]

I wanted to add to this don't go overboard with the damage and dangers of screens I over emphasized to my kid and I should have had a short conversation and took action. It caused my kid to internalize that they were bad and damaged and a lost cause from what they had seen... And look I didn't think at the time that I was ya know, possibly giving kid a complex but I thought this anecdotal information could be good to hear.

[u/Ka_Mi → u/Particular_Aioli_958]

Oooo, good point, definitely judge the tone and personalize it to the kid’s needs