Jaipur: Family fights over electronic gadgets, like laptops, computers, and mobile phones, have become common during this ‘work from home’ (WFH) regime. While parents need to attend video conferencing and complete their projects, children are preoccupied with their online classes, says Dr. Anamika Papriwal, a psychologist.
The electronic gadgets seem to be the latest entrant to the family list of essentials and their shortage has started ringing panic buttons.
In India, the number of computers and laptops doesn’t match the number of members in a family. During the coronavirus crisis, each member wants his own screen for work. It has worsened the situation, causing testing times, she says.
Seema Dawesher, a corporate employee, says, “We face a daily challenge to streamline things in our house. My son’s online classes start at 9 a.m. Mine and my husband’s offices also start at the same time. Imagine the plight, three of us set our priorities right from the morning with just one laptop at home.”
“The crazy cacophony is intensifying with each passing day of the lockdown. Buying a new gadget is difficult with the economy shrinking and pay cuts becoming the order of the day, she added.
“My son, a class VI student, wants a laptop as he can’t attend online classes on phone because of the small screen size and difficulty to visualize the content. With all my data stored in the same, I can’t share it with him during my VCs,” she said.
Mukta Mittal, an entrepreneur, has a similar story. There is a regular tiff among four family members, the couple and two kids. They end up quarreling with each other to grab the only laptop in their home. “We can’t have four computers at home. It sounds bizarre. But it’s also a means of stress and panic as everyone’s schedule begins in the morning. Now, schools have also started evening activity classes online. Amidst all this, when should we attend to our office work?” she remarks.
Dr. Papriwal has been receiving regular calls from such families. “They share their harrowing tales. With each member wanting to get hold of the single laptop at home for their respective works, it triggers the tussle. Housewives too, are getting extremely busy serving her husband and kids who are all at home now 24*7. This adds to her stress and worsening of mental health which in turn affects the atmosphere of the entire family.”
“Coronavirus has changed the whole scenario. It is given that the world won’t be the same post Covid-19. Laptops and phones will definitely be the new essentials. Proper use of gadgets and time management is what every adult and child needs to learn right now,” she said.
But that’s not all. Screen exposure which exceeds a certain time limit would also turn children into gadget addicts making them sleep-deprived if this isn’t taken well care of. “Achieving the difficult life balances is the need of hour,” Dr Papriwal says adding, “Each family member should work out to kill the panic blues and anxiety.”
Scheduling the use of gadgets by each family member is a way to reduce the fights amongst each other. Children using it for a long time strain their eyes, the reason why most of them are seen wearing eyeglasses for better vision. Apart from non-negotiable work, kids playing games and watching videos over it for hours together dull the minds, stealing away their creativity and energy.
Reducing screen times will not only prove beneficial for their own health but also for their families and loved ones.
