Drop smartphones around children, Sweden tells parents

Sweden's Public Health Agency has issued new recommendations urging parents to disconnect from their smartphones during time spent with children. This guidance stems from research highlighting the negative effects of excessive screen use on parent-child interactions and children's own developing habits.

The agency's updated advice moves beyond previous general recommendations for parents to "reflect" on their phone use. It now offers more specific actions, such as putting phones away unless essential or using them collaboratively with the child. The authority also encourages parents to cultivate healthy screen habits for themselves, recognizing that their behavior significantly influences their children's habits.

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Put your phone away when you’re with your child. Use it only if you need to, or when you’re using it together.

Research cited by the agency suggests a correlation between high parental screen time and children's increased likelihood of adopting similar behaviors. Furthermore, these habits can negatively impact the quality of interaction between parents and their children. The agency also advocates for establishing "screen-free zones" within the home, similar to recommendations for children, particularly in bedrooms and during mealtimes.

Helena Frielingsdorf, a psychiatrist at the agency, emphasized the importance of parental example, stating, "Children are not only affected by what adults say, but also by what adults do. That’s why small changes in everyday life can make a difference both for interactions in the present and for the child’s own habits over time." This initiative aligns with Sweden's broader efforts to curb excessive phone usage among young people, including a recent government proposal to ban smartphones in schools for students up to the age of 15-16.

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Children are not only affected by what adults say, but also by what adults do. That’s why small changes in everyday life can make a difference both for interactions in the present and for the child’s own habits over time.