Parents First: Vietnam Tackles Child Screen Addiction by Curbing Adult Phone Use

Many parents in Vietnam find themselves unable to help their children break free from game and social media addiction. Common obstacles include demanding work schedules, a lack of understanding about effective strategies, and feelings of helplessness.

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Room is small, only rented, so I didn't install a TV. My child is only in 2nd grade, doesn't have much homework, saw the child bored so I gave her the phone to watch whatever she wanted to keep her quiet while I cooked and did laundry.

One mother, Ms. Truc, shared her struggle with her 7-year-old daughter, who became overly reliant on a phone for entertainment in their small apartment. Initially, the parents gave her the phone to keep her occupied while they worked. However, the situation escalated when the daughter refused to go to the park, preferring to stay home with her device. "My husband and I realized there was a problem," Ms. Truc recounted, "She wouldn't go anywhere with us, and we had to coax her for a long time just to get her to sleep at night. I was determined to find another way for her to spend her time."

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My husband and I realized there was a problem. She wouldn't go anywhere with us, and we had to coax her for a long time just to get her to sleep at night. I was determined to find another way for her to spend her time.

Ms. Truc discovered a nearby dance class and enrolled her daughter, despite the monthly fee. "At first, she didn't want to go," she admitted, "but once she saw her friends there, she started to enjoy it." She believes this investment is better than letting her daughter become addicted to her phone, which could lead to developmental delays. "I was afraid my child would become addicted to her phone and find it hard to quit," she said. "But it turns out, if you find their true interests and provide a different environment, they will naturally let go of the phone."

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At first, she didn't want to go, but once she saw her friends there, she started to enjoy it. I was afraid my child would become addicted to her phone and find it hard to quit. But it turns out, if you find their true interests and provide a different environment, they will naturally let go of the phone.

Beyond specialized classes, experiential activities are also attracting more parents. During summer, families are opting for camping trips, life skills workshops, and volunteer activities instead of letting children spend all day on their phones. In one such workshop on public speaking in Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Dang Thu Ha brought her sixth-grade son. She confessed that she had previously worried her son might have "mild autism" due to his intense phone usage. "He would lock himself in his room after school, give curt answers to questions, and ignore conversations at family meals while engrossed in TikTok," she explained. The teacher had even contacted her about his shyness.

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He would lock himself in his room after school, give curt answers to questions, and ignore conversations at family meals while engrossed in TikTok.