In a timely announcement, parents have been urged to set an example for their children this Christmas by prioritizing family interactions over smartphone use. Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, expressed her concern regarding the pervasive presence of phones during family gatherings and emphasized the need for “phone-free time” to foster genuine connections among family members, particularly during the festive season.
Dame Rachel conveyed her message to the Press Association, highlighting that many children are yearning for more engagement with their relatives over Christmas. Alarmingly, a recent survey disclosed that nearly half of parents with children aged eighteen or younger plan to allow phones at the dining table during Christmas dinner. Dame Rachel reflected on the conversational struggles many families face, with children often reporting that they find their parents distracted and absorbed in their phones instead of engaging with them during meals. “So this Christmas, let’s turn them off,” she urged passionately.
The conversation around technology’s influence on family dynamics has gained momentum, especially during the festive season when quality time is paramount. A research initiative by More in Common for Yondr revealed that nearly four in ten adults believe smartphones have negatively impacted their Christmas celebrations in some capacity. Dame Rachel candidly admitted that she has, at times, succumbed to using her phone during meals. However, she articulated a vital point: establishing clear guidelines for device use must be a collective effort from all family members and not just designated for children. “We have to lead as adults,” she insisted, underscoring the necessity for parents to model the behavior they wish to cultivate in their children.
Complementing her address, Dame Rachel launched a new guide designed to assist parents in managing children’s online safety and setting boundaries around screen time. This comprehensive resource encourages adults to initiate discussions about their technology use rather than engaging in guilt or shame over usage patterns. Professor Pete Etchells from Bath Spa University echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Christmas presents a suitable opportunity for parents to discuss developing healthy relationships with technology with their children. “It’s not about feeling guilty or ashamed of our tech use, but noticing it more,” he explained, promoting proactive dialogue on acceptable practices and desired changes in behaviors.
The newly launched guide, accessible online, aims to equip parents with coping strategies amid the often overwhelming messages surrounding online safety. The guide consolidates insights gathered from child focus groups and includes practical tips and conversation starters that address managing screen time, combatting negative online experiences, and navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence. Notably, teenagers aged thirteen to eighteen conveyed to Dame Rachel that while they recognized that adverse experiences could occur online, they viewed these challenges as inevitable. They shared their encounters with unsolicited communications and inappropriate content, highlighting the importance of parental discussions around these topics. Dame Rachel called for parents to “talk early and talk often” about their children’s online experiences, reinforcing open channels of communication.
In a related insight, Arabella Skinner from Health Professionals for Safer Screens proposed simple yet effective household strategies, such as designing device-free dining plans or creating a designated box for phones to promote healthier interactions during meals. “Children feel most secure and content when they have our full attention, eye contact, and presence,” she emphasized passionately, insisting on the importance of adults engaging fully with their children without distractions from digital devices. Additionally, a recent report from the communications regulator Ofcom revealed concerning statistics regarding device use among children. It showed that children aged between eight and fourteen spent an average of nearly three hours online daily, with a worrying proportion of that time comprising late-night usage.
The overarching message from this movement is clear: as the Christmas season approaches, it is imperative for parents to lead by example in promoting healthy screen time habits, ensuring quality family interactions, and fostering open conversations about online safety. By doing so, they not only enrich their family relationships but also instill in their children the values of mindful technology use that could benefit them in the long run.
