In the video: With his ‘to-do list’ to complete before using screens, this father of 7 is taking the internet by storm

During a press conference at the Elysée on January 16, President Emmanuel Macron made children show his new hobby horse on the screens. On this occasion, he expressed his desire to “take control of the screens”, saying that he wants “the best experts (…) to be able to tell us: “It is not wise to put a child in front of such an age. of the screen.

At TikTok, Dr. Richard Wadsworth didn’t wait for expert advice to solve the problem of excessive screen exposure in his extended family. In a recent video posted on social media, a psychiatrist reveals a foolproof method that consists of only allowing his 7 children tablets, game consoles, and other smartphones after they make a very specific to-do list.

No sports, no screen

So, after filming one of his young sons in the middle of weight training at 6:50 a.m., the video’s author gives a speech to explain the reasons for this interesting morning exercise. He then details a document taped to the refrigerator. “Can I use the screens?” we can read in English there. In response to the following questions:

• Clean your room. clothes in drawers or hanging. No dirt. Have you made the bed and put away the toys?
• Are you doing your homework?
• Have you done your homework or read for at least 15 minutes?
• Do sports. 1.6 kilometers on the treadmill or 20 minutes of other physical activity (basketball, climbing, weight training)?
• Are you ready for tomorrow? (Lunch, shoes and coat are kept in the right place)
• Have you thought about flushing the toilet?
• Did you wash?
• Is your clean laundry basket empty and back upstairs?

Screen time and diet, the same struggle.

However, Dr. Wadsworth, a psychiatrist and author of personal development books, assures that he does not force his children to do all these tasks. On the other hand, he claims that he sets rules and boundaries for them. “If they want access to their screens, they ask us and we put together a to-do list. They cannot use them until they fulfill them,” he explains. And the specialist continues. “Excessive screen use is linked to increased depression and anxiety among teenagers. We should not give our children unlimited access to it. Just as you monitor their sugar and candy intake, you should also monitor their screen time. Just like you check they eat their lunch before dessert; You also need to make sure they’ve done something positive, like homework, sports or something else, before using screens,” she continues.

In conclusion, the father of 7 children assures that he quickly noticed a change in his teenage son’s behavior after using this system. The teenager will now seem happier and “better in his own skin” thanks to daily sports activities. The fulfillment of tasks is also an object of communication, which stimulates dialogue between them.