SINGAPORE - Phones and laptops have become necessary in school settings today, used for schoolwork and communication with teachers and peers.

Many secondary school students also use their school-prescribed personal learning devices (PLD) for non-academic purposes, parents said, adding that they find it difficult to stop their children from doing so when they get home from school. 

“I am aware that it may not be possible to say no to a phone for my son in Sec 1. This is because there are chat groups for academic work that may be set up. Parents like me may feel pressured because of messaging from the school,” said Mr Timothy Wong, a stay-at-home father to his 11-year-old son.

“I lost count of how many times I have seen or heard of students using the PLD for non-school or non-academic purposes,” said the 50-year-old.

The Straits Times spoke to eight parents about their challenges managing their children’s screen use, following the release of an inaugural Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) survey on Sept 12, which involved nearly 2,000 parents in Singapore.

Findings showed that

more than half of children aged between two and six

Around a quarter of those aged between seven and nine spend more than the recommended two-hour daily screen time limit on weekdays, with the figure doubling on weekends.

Parents said they struggle with withholding screens from their children when they are tired and busy. 

“If I’m too tired or need to do something urgently and cannot occupy them, the screens come in. When you turn the screens on, the kids become silent,” said M...