Children now ‘struggle to grasp basic concepts’: Teachers’ views on screen time
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/12/parents-continue-to-stick-their-heads-in-the-sand-teachers-views-on-screen-time/
Posted by B8_B8_B8
Children now ‘struggle to grasp basic concepts’: Teachers’ views on screen time
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/12/parents-continue-to-stick-their-heads-in-the-sand-teachers-views-on-screen-time/
Posted by B8_B8_B8
21 Comments
Lazy parenting will do that
So the headline and the article talks about kids who “struggle to grasp basic concepts”, yet gives no examples.
Kids not sleeping is one thing. But without examples, is it just an instance of kids just being sleepy and zoned out, or actual cognitive decline? Article is bad at explaining it.
As a teacher this is becoming a large epidemic in education. Its very easy to quickly spot who is being given phones early or just allowed to waste their day on it, the difference between students is staggering. The stuff a lot of them come out with in class is also worrying considering their age and the fact that they often are too young to fully understand what it is they are watching or think critically about it enough to realise they’re being tricked/manipulated.
Supposedly its gotten really bad at third level. I’ve heard stories that students are doing assignments on their phones (downloading office365 etc) and apparently its due to many not knowing how to use laptops.
This is so depressing.
That sad truth at the heart of any of these articles is it’s not just the children who are magically addcited to these devices.
The parents are just as much if not more, that’s why it’s being enabled and that’s why there seems to be no brakes on this no matter how bad it gets.
Some parents have always been bad, no difference to kids when I was younger that just sat infront of the tv all day. I remember some in my class could barely even read, their parents had never encouraged or helped them to in the house.
It’s depressing but not surprising at all, anyone can have a child but many shouldn’t.
I mean it’s as clear as day this was always going to be an issue, parents throwing screens at their kids because it shuts them up, and somehow thinking there won’t be any kind of negative consequences.
I’m sure it’s an issue but these sorts of articles are just fear mongering on the next big fad. When I was growing up, Call of Duty and Liveleak was apparently gonna turn all of us into mass murdering sociopaths hellbent on violence.
Some kids are up all night on their phones… simple fix for that one… geezus some people are fucking thick
This is probably all true but as long as I’m alive this sentiment has always been expressed about the younger generation. It used to be the dangers of television. I’m old but work with people over half my age who grew up with phones and internet. They are very smart and very hard working and ambitious. Most children will probably be just fine because their lives are mixed. Yes they spend a lot of time on devices but also do other things. Parents spend their lives moving their children from one activity to another.
The problem is probably really at the poorer end of society where kids don’t get involved in other things. There is an autism issue to , the cause of which is probably not fully known but having children much later must be having an impact.
You see this not only in classroom but also on the street and buses, young kids in buggies clutching to their phones watching some idiotic videos on full volume while parents are doing the same on their phones.
Got my first smartphone when I turned 12. It was way too fucking early and I was seeing things online that no child should have any business being exposed to. When o see literal toddlers with phones it makes me so upset and angry.
I used to work in the early years education it was absolutely terrifying seeing children age 3 to 4 screaming crying saying goodbye to the iPad or phone at door not there parents. Then being picked up and literally handed it straight away. It was so sad to see one child honestly didn’t know how to play or do much at all because it was clear they were on this all day. I had a parent come viewing the place and asking where are the TVs and iPads she couldn’t believe that we had activities and free play all day without any screen involved. It really opened my eyes to how dangerous it is. I’m all for screen time in small doses and with a parent or caregiver talking to the child about it but not as a replacement for parenting
We need to stop being overly kind with parents.
It sounds horrible but I believe that’s what it is. It’s always just “good job mama” and excuses on how parents need time for themselves, how it’s normal to want peace and queit from your own child, how no one can judge them because they are tired, etc. It’s like american mums on tiktok feeding their children absolute shite saying “fed is best”. No, fed is just the bare minimun you’re legally required to do.
You have a child so care for the child and raise the child. How can someone be surprised a toddler wants their attention? How can people think it’s normal to give your child something that mutes them for hours? I see toddlers in buggies holding a phone on a daily basis, outside, in a shop, in a restaurant, anywhere. There is absolutely no reason for a child to be using a hand held screen device in like the first ten years of their life.
If you cannot manage a healthy bored child to the point you have to give them a screen then you failed them as a parent. That’s a hill i’ll die on. I feel like it needs to be said loud and proper and often, screens are not good. Don’t come at me with limited screen time and excuses about being busy, no, screens are just bad and that’s it, don’t provide them. It’s easy.
My kids get their first phone at around 12, my older kids have them now, my youngest doesn’t yet. And they’re all perfectly fine, they have great friends, do sports, speak 4-5 languages, do well in school, they are happy and kind kids. I had them all within 6 years, it was mental busy and sure it would be a lot easier if I just handed them ipads. But I love my kids and I want what’s best for them so I didn’t. That should be the norm. Do what’s best for your child and take the screen away
Was in a restaurant yesterday and these two people were sitting next to us and they had a child, looked about 2/3, and the ENTIRE time we were there the child was head down on a phone watching youtube. They got the kid an ice cream and the kid didn’t even look up from the phone, just start eating their ice cream with no acknowledgement. Parents were just chatting away to themselves having a great time. I was actually in shock.
I was sitting there with my 1 year old who was interacting with us, looking around, doing baby things. Had to suffer through a lot of restaurant meltdowns to eventually have a child that sits content in a restaurant. It was hard but I refuse to have an ipad kid, some people are mad.
Myself and wife always play the game of spotting people on phones not interacting when out for a meal.
Mostly it’s a couple or parent and kid. They’ll go almost an entire meal not saying one word to each other.
Our record spot is an entire family of 6!
1hr and they hardly said anything, they were all looking at their own phones.
We’ve never given a phone to our kids for more then 10min every few months to play a game.
It makes me incredibly sad when I see two year olds in buggy on them, not interacting with the world.
These are the kids, that when you give them an actual book they try to swipe it! I’ve seen that happen with a child too 😢
Times have changed and schools need to adapt.
Were is the minister for education?? leading a direction on how to tackle this issue?
Parents that don’t take an active interest in their children will have dumb kids. Learning starts at home, if you can’t take the time to teach your kids then why should the school system?
Honestly ChatGPT is going to replace at least half of the teachers. In 20 years time if all we have are dumb and dumber coming out of school the country will be in ruins.
Why do I still see young children glued to phone screens on a daily basis when articles like this are literally everywhere?
Such as?
The fact that we still have primary school kids being given smartphones is just shocking to me.