Pedagogical prevention of gadget addiction in primary school

The authors draw the attention of educators and parents to the negative impact of gadgets on children's physical and mental health, as well as their displacement of traditional forms of childhood activities. The article substantiates the necessity of pedagogical prevention of gadget addiction in primary school, including preventive measures such as guidance, restrictions, supervision, and prohibition. As part of the pedagogical prevention efforts, a semi-standardized group discussion was conducted with parents of primary school students. The results revealed that third-graders spend 2-4 hours a day using gadgets, with around 90% playing games. More than 55% of parents expressed concerns about their children's gadget use, while approximately 25% had not previously considered the issue. A direct face-to-face survey with students showed that children have a relatively balanced perception of the impact of computer games on their development, describing them as activities that “help with thinking”, “promote bad qualities”, and “take up a lot of time”. Individual interviews provided insights into pedagogical strategies for addressing students' excessive interest in digital devices. Based on empirical data and initial measures to prevent and address digital dependency, the Pedagogical Prevention Program “Gadget Addiction: There Is a Solution” was developed. The program aims to cultivate a responsible approach to mobile phone and digital device usage among primary school students and their parents.