Grandpa uses dog cone to limit granddaughter's phone use
A Chinese grandfather from Xian, Shaanxi province, came up with a quirky solution to curb his five-year-old granddaughter's excessive phone usage - a dog cone collar! This amusing approach has caught the attention of social media users in China, sparking conversations about its effectiveness. The girl's mother, Yuan, shared that her daughter was initially against the idea but later found it surprisingly helpful in reducing her phone "addiction."
Video shows the girl in brand-new pink dog cone collar
The resourceful grandfather stumbled upon this idea when he noticed his granddaughter glued to her phone during a car ride. He then placed a brand-new pink dog cone collar, usually used to prevent dogs from licking their wounds post-surgery, around her neck. A viral video shows the girl sitting in the car with the collar on, refusing to leave until her grandfather takes her phone away and says, "No, no! This is for dogs!"
Mother's account of the collar's effectiveness
Mother Yuan said that after wearing the collar for a few days, her daughter lost interest in the phone. "For the next two days, whenever she wanted to use the phone, I put the collar on her. After wearing it for two or three days, she no longer wanted the phone, so we don't use it anymore," she said. A Weibo user suggested this tactic for young adults with neck issues due to phone addiction.
Mixed reactions and alternative uses of pet accessories
While many found humor in this unconventional method, others felt it was impractical and advised adults to set an example by limiting their own screen time. One social media user commented, "To get children off phones, you need to divert their attention and cultivate their interests." Interestingly, in October 2022, a Chinese tech blogger suggested using GPS-enabled pet collars to track children's safety, garnering significant support from online viewers.
The main question is, can screen time be limited?
While the use of pet collars to curb children's smartphone habits has sparked laughter online, not everyone sees it as a viable solution. Critics argue that parental example and fostering genuine interests are more effective approaches. Despite the divided opinions, this innovative tactic has fueled broader discussions on the challenges of managing children's screen time and the diverse strategies employed by parents in the digital age.
