At just 14 years old, Riya’s life had slowly started revolving around her phone. She woke up with it in her hand and went to sleep scrolling through social media. Her school grades were falling, she had stopped talking to friends in real life, and her mood had become short-tempered and restless. Her parents tried scolding her, taking away the phone, and even setting time limits, but nothing worked for long.
Every evening after school, Riya would lock herself in her room and spend hours watching videos and chatting online. She skipped homework, avoided family time, and lost interest in hobbies she once loved. Her parents noticed that she was always tired, irritated, and distracted. The more they tried to control her screen time, the more angry and stubborn she became.
One day, instead of fighting over the phone again, her parents decided to change their approach. They stopped arguing about screen time and focused on changing their own routine first. They started spending more time together as a family. Dinner became a no-phone zone. Evenings were reserved for walks, board games, or simple conversations. Her parents also reduced their own phone usage to set an example.
At first, Riya resisted. She complained and tried to sneak her phone into family time. But slowly, something changed. She began enjoying the evening walks. She started laughing during games. She felt heard during conversations. Her need to escape into the screen reduced because she finally felt connected again.
Within a few weeks, her sleep improved. Her focus in school came back. She started drawing again, something she had loved as a child. The phone was still there, but it was no longer controlling her life.
What worked was not strict rules or punishment. What worked was emotional connection. When children feel lonely, bored, or stressed, screens become their comfort. When they feel supported, listened to, and engaged, they no longer need to hide behind a screen.
Riya’s parents didn’t just take away a phone. They gave her back a life she was missing.
