Kathmandu, June 6

Behavioural problems among schoolchildren have become a matter of concern for parents in urban areas of late.

It has been seen that children with such problems spend most of their time watching television and playing games on mobile phones.

“Parents complain that their kids watch television and play video games for long hours,” said Dr Arun Raj Kunwar, head of Child Psychiatry Unit, Kanti Children’s Hospital.

“The children who spend a lot of time playing video games during night time suffer from sleep deprivation and it hampers their studies. Such children cannot adjust to new situations and socialise easily,” said Dr Kunwar.

As per the data with Kanti Children’s Hospital, from among 3,300 children who visited the hospital’s psychiatry department, behavioural problems were seen in more than 50 per cent.  Children with behavioural problems suffer from anxiety and depression. They also exhibit impulsive and aggressive behaviour.

To prevent children from becoming the victims of behavioural problems, doctors have advised parents to spend time with their children and ensure that the content they watched on television or internet is appropriate. “Parents should tell children that nothing comes without working,” said the doctor.