This country is paying kids to get off smartphones

From this year, the Swedish government is expanding the “activity card”, i.e. a voucher from the state for children and teenagers to pay for sports activities. This is supposed to be a way to distract teenagers from electronic screens.

Sweden's Minister of Social Affairs, Jakob Forssmed, who introduced the card last fall, expressed satisfaction with the beginnings of its operation.

Up to 230 euros for a child

So far, over 341,000 people have used this solution. children aged 8 to 16. From the beginning of January this year. The voucher is also available to 7-year-olds, and its value has increased from 500 to 550 crowns (approx. EUR 51) per year. In the case of poorer families, the increase is higher – from PLN 2,000. up to 2.5 thousand crowns (approx. EUR 230) per child per year.

According to the authorities, families with fewer financial resources may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of excessive phone use.

– We know from conversations with aid organizations that there are children who give up sports because their parents cannot afford to pay for sports activities or club entry fees – emphasized Forssmed.

So far, 5,752 companies and sports or cultural associations have participated in the implementation of the card, which is the number of places where the voucher can be redeemed. The money can also be used – for example – to rent skis.

The “activity card”, although intended to distract children from using screens, is available in a digital version on the government website: www.fritidskortet.se.

Recommendations for parents

At the request of Forssmed, the Swedish Public Health Authority issued recommendations to parents on limiting the time children spend in front of screens. They show that children aged 0-2 should not use smartphones and tablets at all, aged 2-5 for a maximum of one hour a day, and aged 6-12 – up to 1-2 hours a day. However, teenagers between 13 and 18 years of age should use screens for 2-3 hours a day. Educational materials have also been published to help enforce the ban.

In Sweden, local governments are implementing other measures to help reduce screen use by children. Free sports equipment rentals have been established in many cities. In Stockholm, students receive free public transport tickets during the holidays.

Another idea of ​​Forssmed is to include mental health issues, including the effects of using social media platforms, in the school curriculum.

From Stockholm Daniel Zyśk (PAP)

profit / mal /