Kids Say Parents Are On Smartphones Too Much, New Survey A Wake-Up Call For Families

A survey conducted among 2,000 kids between 11 to 18-years-old revealed their thoughts and observations on their parents' mobile phone habits. Most of them said their parents were on their smartphones too much and experts called the findings as a wake-up call for families.

Digital Awareness U.K. (DAUK) and the Headmasters and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) joined forces in undertaking the survey among the kids. The groups also polled 3,000 parents, where 95 percent denied they were on the phone a lot, BBC reported.

Some 82 percent of kids said their parents use their phones during meal times while 22 percent said their parents' attachment to their phones disrupted family time and holidays. Some 36 percent of the kids said they asked their parents to set aside their phones but only 46 percent of the parents acknowledged and heeded their request.

Parents, on the other hand, might have disagreed with what the kids observed yet 43 percent of moms and dads admitted they do feel spending a lot of time fiddling their phones. Only 10 percent of the parents understood how this habit concerned their children.

Experts have time and again pointed out the phone habits of children could become out of control because of what they see from their parents. "Children need the adults in their lives to set clear boundaries and role model sensible behavior," Mike Buchanan of HMC said, as per Daily Mail.

The survey also revealed a few surprising results as the kids polled were actually aware of the disadvantages of too much screen time and overuse of smartphones. Some 47 percent of the kids admitted they worried mobile phones affected their sleep routines.

Buchanan and his group call on the need for both parents, families and schools to come together and review best practices in smartphone use. This should be helpful since gadgets are no longer just for communication or distraction and entertainment. It's a tool for learning for kids and a means to efficiently manage work for parents.