Advice for Parents
Practical steps without a phone battle: a clear routine, regular activity, and an engagement that can fit into the family's week.
For one typical week, record sleep, studying, commute, homework, in-person interaction, physical activity, and screen time. Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing data can help recall actual hours but won't explain their content. Such an audit reveals not a "bad kid with a phone," but specific parts of the day where screens displace sleep, movement, or other important activities.
A video lesson, talking with friends, drawing on a tablet, and endless scrolling are not the same activity. Instead of a universal limit, observe what your child is doing and what isn't happening because of it. If screen time doesn't interfere with sleep, learning, movement, and in-person communication, the problem looks different than when it regularly takes away from these needs.
Agree on a few specific rules that the whole family can follow: where phones charge at night, whether they are used during meals, when notifications are turned off, and what happens before bedtime. Write down the rules in simple language. If adults demand from a child what they themselves don't adhere to, the conflict quickly shifts from routine to a feeling of injustice.
A rule is easier to follow when it's tied to a situation rather than relying on daily arguments. For example: phones are not on the table during meals, they don't go onto the mats, and they have a designated place at night. Start with one or two rules, test them for two weeks, and only then add new ones.
An empty hour quickly leads back to the screen. Offer an alternative with a specific time, place, and people: a walk, a household chore, a meeting, training, or another offline activity. The alternative should suit the child's age and interest. The goal isn't to fill every minute, but to establish a predictable rhythm in the week that goes beyond phone use.
Consider the child's interest, the commute, group time, and how the coach works with beginners. One-off activities do not reshape a week; regular training must be realistic for the family. BORETS has four locations in Kropyvnytskyi, so choose a group by age, experience, and area together.
Don't just evaluate the total screen time. Observe if the child falls asleep more easily, if there's still time for movement and in-person interaction, which rules consistently cause conflict, and what proved unrealistic. The media plan can be adjusted: it's not strictness itself that works, but a clear agreement that the family can maintain.
Before the trip, ask when children may use their phones, where devices are stored during training, and how parents contact the responsible adult. Communication rules should be confirmed for each specific camp or training camp.
If changes in sleep, mood, behavior, or learning are prolonged, sudden, or cause concern, consult a family doctor or a specialized professional. A sports section can be part of a weekly routine, but it is not a treatment. A coach does not diagnose or prescribe therapy.
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Tell us the athlete’s age, experience, and preferred location. A coordinator will check the current schedule, answer your questions, and recommend a specific group.
