Life Beyond the Screens – Exploring Screen Time and Communication Patterns Among Parents and Children

Ms. Divya Immanuel

The Mental Wellness Team at Don Bosco High School, Matunga organised an awareness session for parents of students from Std. V to VIII on 14 March 2021. The session was conducted in two batches and addressed the rising use of digital platforms for entertainment, gaming, and socialisation among children.

The theme, Life Beyond the Screens, highlighted the growing concern of screen addiction among children and emphasized the need for a collective effort from parents to bring about positive changes in digital habits at home.

The session was facilitated by Mrs. Divya Immanuel, the school counsellor, who began with a moment of self-reflection for parents. She encouraged them to think about the time they themselves spend on digital devices, especially when they are with their children. She pointed out how screens have gradually replaced many of the simple joys of everyday life. She emphasized that if adults themselves struggle to keep their phones aside, it becomes unfair to expect children to do so.

The session focused on helping parents understand the effects of excessive screen time on children and discussed practical ways to improve the way parents interact with them. Through relatable, everyday examples, the counsellor helped parents identify common mistakes and habits that may unknowingly be developing in children and could impact their future.

Parents were encouraged to spend quality time with their children by observing, appreciating, and engaging meaningfully with them. The importance of parental supervision and the use of parental controls on digital gadgets and applications were also highlighted.

Ms. Divya also spoke about the adolescent phase that many of the children are entering or are already experiencing. She explained that this stage brings its own set of emotional and social challenges. When parents constantly correct, judge, or lecture their children, it may lead children to withdraw, become less communicative, and begin keeping secrets from them.

She also shared insights about children creating separate social media accounts, particularly on Instagram, to avoid parental monitoring on WhatsApp. This made parents aware of the need to build trust and maintain open channels of communication.

Since this is a crucial stage in a child’s development and in strengthening the parent–child relationship, parents were encouraged to foster an environment where children feel comfortable approaching them to share their experiences, concerns, and thoughts.

The session concluded with a discussion on practical ways to spend quality time with children and effective parental control strategies for managing the use of digital devices.