At least 35% of parents in Belgium find it difficult to manage their children's use of screens, according to a survey carried out on behalf of the Partenamut insurance company.
Screen use is now widespread, encompassing video games, socialising and networking, and schoolwork, with an average of five screens per Belgian household. Partenamut's survey of some 2,000 parents of children aged one to 18 highlighted the importance of intra-family dialogue when it comes to the use of these devices. In 28% of households, they were found to be a source of tension and conflict.
Parents indicated noticeable impacts on children's health from extended screen time. These included sleep disorders, chronic or severe anxiety, and even depression, particularly among teenagers who often express their distress through behaviours such as running away, eating disorders and academic declines, rather than verbally communicating their feelings.
Psychologist and psychotherapist Jory Deleuze asserted that the problem does not lie with the screen itself. "It is crucial first to re-establish communication with the children," he advised. "If there is no dialogue or if it is no longer possible, then a psychologist can facilitate the exchange. However, demonising screen use should not be the approach."
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For Aline Durieu, a digital parenting facilitator, the issue is not duration but the content to which children are exposed. "While the focus tends to be on the overall screen time, the primary concern should be about the content. Collaborating with the child to choose what they watch is vital."
Interestingly, the survey shows that parents already lean towards this approach. 74% of respondents report an ability to have conversations with their children about their screen usage, and 38% even seek guidance on the topic.
