Parents should lead by example and switch off their phones during family holidays this Christmas, England's Children's Commissioner has said.
Dame Rachel de Souza told the Press Association that children are “craving” to connect with their relatives over the festive holidays and encouraged them to have “phone-free time”.
Nearly half of parents of children aged 18 and under plan to allow phone use at the Christmas dinner table this year, according to a recent survey.
“I can't tell you how many children tell me that they are sitting at dinner and their parents are talking on the phone,” Dame Rachel said. “So this Christmas let’s turn them off.”
More in Common research for Yondr found that nearly four in 10 adults say smartphones have ruined their Christmas in some way.
The Children's Commissioner said that while she had been guilty of using her phone during meals in the past, setting clear rules for everyone, not just children, was key.
“We need to lead like adults,” Dame Rachel said. “We can’t talk about banning children if we don’t do it ourselves.”
Her comments come as she released new guidance containing advice on keeping children safe online and how to set boundaries around screen time.
Pete Etchells, professor of psychology at Bath Spa University, told BBC News that Christmas is a good time to talk to children about developing a healthy relationship with technology.
“It’s not about feeling guilty or ashamed about using technology, but about noticing it more,” he said.
“And start a conversation about what we’re happy with and what we’d like to do differently.”
New Commissioner's Guide available onlinewas released to support parents who “may feel overwhelmed” by the “mixed messages” about online safety, and was informed by children's focus groups.
In it, parents can find “practical tips” and “conversation starters” on how to discuss topics such as managing screen time, dealing with negative online experiences and using artificial intelligence (AI).
Teenagers aged 13 to 18 told Dame Rachel that they accept that bad things can happen online, believing it is an inevitable part of the online world.
They also described being contacted by strangers, seeing pornography and knowing that intimate images of their peers had been shared.
Dame Rachel said it was important for parents to “talk early and often” with their children about their online presence.
Arabella Skinner, from Health Workers for Safe Screens, told BBC News that simple rules could make a difference.
She suggested creating a family device plan or designing a box to store cell phones during meals.
“Children feel most secure and content when they have our full attention, eye contact and presence,” she said.
“It’s important that we as adults spend time with our children and not always look at screens.”
Report published by regulator Ofcom earlier this month highlighted children's concerns about the negative effects of endless screen time and “brain rot.”
It found that children aged eight to 14 spend an average of almost three hours online each day, with up to a quarter of this time occurring between 21:00 and 05:00.
