The great mobile phone danger!

From our series "Things that didn't exist 20 years ago" we present today: "Gaming disorder." As the name suggests, it's all about playing games (on mobile phones/tablets). Parents should be on their guard - but also think about their role as role models.

Gaming alone - in moderation - is not yet a problem. But when three factors come together, alarm bells should ring:

1. The child has no control over play and cannot stop it in time.

2. The child neglects things that are important.

3. The child experiences the negative consequences of their behaviour - but still can't stop.

These three criteria are important for making a diagnosis of "gaming disorder".

At the moment, we assume that two per cent of children and young people are acutely affected - and up to ten per cent are at risk. What else we know: The whole thing is very boy-centred.

For you as parents, it is extremely important to pay close attention to the above three points. The decisive factor is therefore not whether the usage time is half an hour more or less, but whether these three points are fulfilled.

And to go one step further: It is very, very important for all of us to raise our children to be media literate. They should acquire a certain level of media literacy from an early age.

Of course, this also includes us parents acting as role models. For example, when we are with the child, we should not have the mobile phone with us at all if possible, but leave it out of the way. Mothers should not distract themselves with YouTube films while breastfeeding, but instead focus on the baby, etc.

For the children themselves: no media for at least the first 18 months. Many experts even advise that children should be kept away from digital media for the first three years. And then a slow introduction, always within a small time frame, always accompanied by adults so that the children have the opportunity to ask questions.

The basic rule is: no media in the children's bedrooms, no media use during mealtimes. And very important: please do not use mobile phones, tablets or media to get the children to do anything: brush their teeth, get dressed more quickly or get some rest. Or even as a babysitter.

Because this is where the great danger lurks: that children don't learn to regulate themselves or deal with certain tensions themselves. Instead, they always need media that "help" (us parents) to do this.