{"id":6699,"date":"2025-12-12T18:17:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T18:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/?p=6699"},"modified":"2025-12-12T18:17:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T18:17:26","slug":"interview-phones-replacing-playgrounds-expert-warns-of-rising-screen-dependency-crisis-among-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/2025\/12\/12\/interview-phones-replacing-playgrounds-expert-warns-of-rising-screen-dependency-crisis-among-children\/","title":{"rendered":"=== INTERVIEW === \u2018Phones replacing playgrounds\u2019: Expert warns of rising screen dependency crisis among children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Terms it \u2018silent replacement of childhood\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Advises parents: \u2018Your child needs you, not a perfect environment\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Srinagar Dec 12: An expert has warned of serious developmental and emotional implications of the rising dependence on screens among children in Kashmir. He described this growing trend as \u201ca silent replacement of childhood itself\u201d, saying that excessive and unguided screen use is quietly reshaping children\u2019s behaviour, emotional health, and developmental milestones.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with the news agency\u2014Kashmir News Observer (KNO), noted psychiatrist Dr Abrar Guroo from the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) Srinagar, sounded a strong alarm over the rapidly growing screen dependency among children, calling it \u201ca silent replacement of childhood itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking about the daily cases he encounters, Dr Guroo said excessive and unguided screen time is quietly reshaping children\u2019s behaviour, emotional well-being and development. \u201cThe phone is not the real problem. The real problem is what it silently replaces – meaningful conversation, movement, imagination and the simple experience of being a child,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dr Guroo said children thrive through physical touch, free play, curiosity and interaction. But screens, when introduced too early or used excessively, wipe out these natural learning moments, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren grow through touch, talk, play and curiosity. They need to run around, fall, argue, get bored and then figure out what to do next. A screen takes away all of that,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

The impact is visible in clinical settings: language delays due to lack of conversation at home, restlessness caused by reduced physical activity, and widespread sleep disturbances, particularly when screens are used in the evening hours.<\/p>\n

Are parents adding to the problem?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Dr Guroo, many families unintentionally contribute to excessive screen exposure.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren imitate us before they understand us. If a parent is glued to a phone while talking to their child, the message is loud and clear \u2014 this is normal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

With online homework, digital entertainment, and even waiting rooms filled with screens, parents often feel trapped in an ecosystem where avoiding screens seems impossible. \u201cFamilies feel cornered by it, even when they want to change it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The rise of ‘Virtual Autism’<\/strong><\/p>\n

A growing number of parents in Kashmir are now worried about what is being referred to as virtual autism \u2014 autism-like symptoms seen in toddlers heavily exposed to screens with minimal human interaction.<\/p>\n

Dr Guroo explained: \u201cIt\u2019s not autism, but it can look similar – reduced eye contact, delayed speech, repetitive behaviours. The hopeful part is that when screen time is reduced, and real interaction increases, many of these behaviours improve.\u201d<\/p>\n

This, he said, is a clear reminder of how deeply young brains depend on human connection.<\/p>\n

International recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n

International recommendations on screen use remain firm:<\/p>\n

WHO: No screen time for children below 2 years; very limited, adult-supervised content for ages 2\u20135.<\/p>\n

American Academy of Pediatrics: Create a family media plan, avoid screens during meals and at bedtime, and stop all screen use at least an hour before sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese aren\u2019t restrictions \u2014 they\u2019re safeguards for healthy development,\u201d Dr Guroo said.<\/p>\n

Linking screen addiction to Kashmir\u2019s shortage of recreation spaces, Dr Guroor highlighted a structural problem often overlooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Kashmir, we simply don\u2019t have enough safe and accessible playgrounds. Many neighbourhoods don\u2019t even have a basic ground. Winters limit outdoor activity, traffic is unsafe, and parents are understandably protective,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In such conditions, the phone becomes the only available escape for children. \u201cChildren don\u2019t prefer screens \u2014 they default to screens because there is no alternative. That is heartbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

He warned that the lack of sports facilities is silently shaping children\u2019s fitness levels, social skills and emotional resilience. \u201cIf we want to reduce screen dependence in Kashmir, we must create real alternatives \u2014 local playgrounds, indoor sports centres, affordable clubs, school-based sports programmes. Parents alone cannot fix this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dr Guroo concluded with a simple reminder: \u201cYour child doesn\u2019t need a perfect environment. They need you, your presence, your attention, your voice. Screens will always be there, but you\u2019re the one they remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

As screen time becomes a daily part of childhood in Kashmir, experts like Dr Abrar Guroo believe that timely collective action – from families, schools, communities and policymakers – is essential to safeguard the emotional and developmental health of the next generation. (KNO)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Terms it \u2018silent replacement of childhood\u2019 Advises parents: \u2018Your child needs you, not a perfect environment\u2019 Srinagar Dec 12: An expert has warned of serious developmental and emotional implications of the rising dependence on screens among children in Kashmir. He described this growing trend as \u201ca silent replacement of childhood itself\u201d, saying that excessive and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-news","category-kt-front"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6699"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6701,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6699\/revisions\/6701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kashmirthunder.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}