17/06/2025

LYFE TUESDAY | JUNE 17, 2025

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Avoid raising speed demons o Simple messages parents need to reinforce with teens learning to drive C AN I please have the keys to the car, mummy/daddy?” Words that many parents dread to hear as it signals not Get the right wheels Most parents want to splurge on their offspring. Why not and what better way to show their love by getting them rides of their choosing, even if they are fast and furious machines. A big mistake as many young drivers lack the requisite experience to control such torque monsters. Ű BY R.BALA

Getting a teen to learn with a manual transmission is a good idea.

only growing independence of a child but also the increased risk that comes with being a road user. Recent media reports of accidents, some of them fatal, involving inexperienced teen drivers is only bound to increase this anxiety among parents. Some have even resorted to banning their teenage kids from getting behind the wheel, which is not an ideal solution. Parents will need to face up to the fact that driving is an essential skill and one which their kids will be keen to learn. Here are a few things parents need to bear in mind while kids get to grips with commandeering heavy machinery. It is not a phone The new generation now expect everything to work in tandem with a smart phone. Parents need to let them know earlier on that it is not as easy as swiping a phone screen or asking artificial intelligence to perform a task. Driving is a real skill, one that requires many hours of practice and constant vigilance just to avoid mishaps. One of the best ways to emphasise this is to get teen drivers to learn with a manual transmission. Yes, a proper stick shift may put the fear of the divine in many teen drivers but that is certainly preferable to them meeting it in an untimely car crash. Goes without saying, teen drivers who master the art of manual gear driving will be more alert to the road surroundings and to the actual vehicles themselves.

Also, bear in mind, new fangled electric vehicles (EV) possess plenty of power, once the preserve of more exotic sports marques. These days, a so-called family sedan EV is capable of 0-100km/h sprints in under 10 seconds. That is certainly fast enough to cause serious damage, if not kill, and it is imperative parents make the right choice. Safety, not speed, should be top of the requirements for newbie drivers. Useful driving aids and airbags should be the boxes to tick. As are powerful brakes, not a beast of a turbo. Stopping in time is far more important than instant acceleration. Practice, practice, practice The best thing a parent can do is to have the child go through countless hours of practice. Get a seasoned instructor with plenty of patience to tutor your kid. Time permitting, try to add that by taking your L driver on weekend drives. But that is only if your temperament permits it. Too many parents blow a gasket and put their children off driving completely. Do not be in a rush to get your child to pass the driver’s test. In road matters, patience is a virtue and waiting a few extra months to get your child properly prepared would be a wise decision. Digital policing Perhaps, tough love can save life or two. With the advent of logisitical tracking devices, a parent can monitor the driving style of their kids

Make sure your child has many hours of practice, allowing them to familiarise themselves with the workings of a vehicle.

from afar. These range from dash cams that capture entire journeys to apps that alert you whenever a speed limit is breached. Hand out appropriate penalties such as driving bans or even fines to reflect real world scenarios. Sometimes, tough love is the best way to get a message across and driving etiquette should be one area where that message is heard loud and clear. Getting behind the wheel is a pivotal moment for your child. Do try to emphasise the need for safety first as not only are their lives at stake but other road users’ welfare is at stake as well.

Novice drivers need to be reminded that a car is not a smart phone.

How screen use can be vicious cycle for some children, adolescents TO cope with behavioural problems linked to excessive screen use, such as aggression or anxiety, some children take refuge in screens. While this vicious circle aspect of the screen phenomenon is not widely discussed, it has been highlighted by a comprehensive Australian study published last week. in girls. Conducted by psychology professors at the University of Queensland (Australia), the research examined around 100 studies involving more than 292,000 children from around the world and the findings are published in other screen-based content, including those intended for educational or recreational purposes. “As a kid I loved video games – they give you a challenge and powerful feedback when you are doing a good job. For this reason, games are particularly tempting for especially hard to get children away from,” said UQ’s School of Psychology associate professor and study senior author Michael Noetel. exposure to alcohol or drugs. Follow 3-6-9-12 rule In France, some health professionals now recommended keeping children under six away from screens entirely, which is three years longer than the current official recommendations (no screens before three).

While it is true some video games have an educational dimension with some of them being recognised as a vehicle for mental well-being among teenagers, excessive use can be counterproductive. “Noetel said parents and policymakers have long debated whether screens cause problems, or whether children with problems were simply drawn to screens,” the press statement revealed. “Our review shows it is both,” he added. Noetal said only addressing one side of the equation – “cutting down on screen time but overlooking anxiety or aggression that leads kids to screens” – risk leaving children stuck in a cycle. However, the researcher tempered this by pointing out that the emotional and behavioural disorders can also be explained by other factors, such as

the journal Psychological Bulletin. Most of the studies included in this research were conducted in the US (41 studies), Canada (13), Australia (11), Germany and the Netherlands (seven each). Effects of video games The researchers found

c h i l d r e n h a v i n g p r ob l ems and (is)

It has long been known that screens are harmful to children. Excessive exposure (several hours a day) has been linked to cognitive development delays, as well as learning, language and memory disorders. And in adolescents, excessive screen use may cause manic symptoms, such as mood disorders and sleep disturbances. But a new meta-analysis highlighted a lesser known problem. The study reported excessive screen use can exacerbate socio-emotional problems – anxiety, depression, aggression and hyperactivity – in children, driving them to screens to cope with these issues. This vicious circle mainly affects children aged six to 10, and seems to be more prevalent in boys than

To help parents limit their children’s screen time, French pediatrician Serge Tisseron has invented the 3-6-9-12 rule, designed according to children’s age and stage of cognitive development. The rules are as follows: no screens before the age of three, no personal consoles before the age of six, no internet before the age of nine, and no internet without supervision before the age of 12. Other initiatives have recently emerged to encourage children and teenagers to detox from digital devices, such as the challenge of spending 10 days without using any screens at all, in favour of activities that promote relaxation and creativity. – ETX Studio

video games are associated with higher risks of

developing behavioural disorders compared

French health professionals have recommended zero screen time for children below the age of three. – ALL PICS FROM PEXELS

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