Parenting in Digital Era

Naruhi Hospitals, promoted by the Sanko Foundation, is founded by Dr. J.V. Sampath from Vellore, India, with a vision to reduce the need for locals to travel for healthcare by providing high-end, affordable medical facilities. This hospital quickly adapted to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding its capacity for critical care.

Positioned as a tertiary care center, Naruhi Hospitals focuses on ethical practices, transparency, and overall patient satisfaction. It maintains a collaboration with the Henry Ford Health System to gain access to tried-and-tested healthcare practices, aiming to elevate patient care and knowledge exchange.

The hospital embraces technology by being completely paperless and filmless, emphasizing the ‘fragrance of care’. It has a significant infrastructure with 475 beds, including 25 critical care beds, and features advanced medical equipment and operation theatres designed for optimal healthcare delivery.

Naruhi Hospitals is expanding its reach internationally, with progress on tie-ups with foreign governments to attract overseas patients. It hosted a webinar on parenting in the digital age, emphasizing the impact of the pandemic on children's screen time and the consequent shift in their activities.

Dr. Sonia Mary Kurian, Head of Pediatrics, addressed the negative shift from outdoor activities to screen addiction during the pandemic, detailing how this impacts children's development, including social skills and language acquisition. The webinar stressed the importance of managing screen time effectively.

The neurobiology of screen addiction was discussed, revealing how dopamine release makes screen activities addictive. Early and unmanaged exposure can adversely affect cognitive and social development, underscoring the need for structured screen time and awareness among parents.

Negative consequences of excessive screen time include behavioral changes, physical health issues like obesity, vision problems, and disrupted sleep patterns. Strategies to mitigate these effects include promoting healthy habits and providing alternative activities.

Expert recommendations include avoiding screen time for children under two and limiting sessions for the slightly older. Engaging with children during screen time, choosing age-appropriate content, and modeling proper tech use are stressed. Family rituals without screens foster better family interactions.

Shinika addressed adolescent digital habits, highlighting issues like internet addiction and its impact on academic performance and social interactions. Recommendations include setting clear limits and encouraging co-viewing and co-playing as a family to strengthen bonds and teach responsibility.

The psychological impacts of digital addiction in teens include social isolation and mood disorders. Effective management involves maintaining communication, understanding their world, and setting structured digital interaction times to balance online and offline activities.

Behavior management strategies were presented to help distinguish between attention-seeking and demand-driven behaviors. Techniques like consistent feedback, flexibility, and consequence management promote healthier behavior patterns in both home and social settings.

Enhancing cognitive skills through structured routines and encouraging self-motivation in children were emphasized. Parents are encouraged to develop reward-based systems to positively reinforce productive behavior.

To foster emotional intelligence, children are taught self-awareness and regulation through positive habits. Encouraging expressions and proper communication builds empathy and better interpersonal skills, essential for social functioning.

Effective parenting involves maintaining calm communication, being authoritative with flexible discipline, active listening, and modeling desired behaviors. Parents are advised to create structured, consistent interaction frameworks for better adolescent development.