r/ChildPsychology

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on my final year research project, which explores how ideas of child safety are shaped in Pakistan, especially through children’s digital media use and parental control.

As part of my research, I’m looking to speak with psychologists (or professionals working closely with children) for short online interviews. I’m trying to better understand how digital media might influence children’s behavior, attention span, and cognitive and socio-emotional development, particularly for ages 3 to 10.

I’m especially interested in perspectives on things like screen time, overstimulation, content type, and how children tend to copy language, behavior, and attitudes from what they watch. I’d also love insights into how fast-paced content affects mood, focus, emotional regulation, and issues like irritability or short attention spans. Alongside that, I’m exploring how parents can practically guide healthier media use in everyday life.

If you’re a professional in this area (or know someone who is), I’d really appreciate the chance to have a short 15–20 minute online conversation. It would mean a lot and would really help strengthen my research.

Please feel free to comment or DM if you’re open to it. Thank you so much for your time!

Hi,

This is going to be long, so if you take the time to read this and advise, thank you so much. My son is five. He is an only child. He is diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type. Since age three, he has made a tremendous amount of progress socially and emotionally. He is kind, helpful, loves to help around the house with chores, a good listener for the most part, all the things. My mother in laws lives directly next door and we have a shared backyard. My nephew is here visiting from out of state and he is staying next door with my mother in law. He is the same age as my son. They were so excited to see each other, hugging and loving on each other. However, I am having such a hard time knowing what is right, what is my son's fault, and how to go about this current extremely stressful situation.

My nephew helps himself to all my son's toys. He will jump in my son's outdoor jeep at anytime, even if my son is not outside with him. He walked into our house the other day without knocking (YES he is five, I know it's not his fault, he needs to be told to knock). My son is willing to share, however, on his terms. He allows my nephew to touch and play with toys but expects him to give them back when he asks, and my nephew will not. He will state, "I am playing with it, go play with something else." This sends my son into an absolute tantrum that I haven't seen since he was a toddler. Screaming, crying, throwing things (he threw his favorite water gun out of anger and broke it and IMMEDIATELY sobbed, regretting it). He says it's HIS house and they are HIS toys and his cousin should follow those rules. My husband is angry with my son, saying that none of his friends are going to want to come over and play if he acts like this.

This behavior has me in tears because I hate to see my son struggle, but I also feel he's being spoiled and mean. I panicked and sent his teacher a message, asking if he is like this in school. She said no, he shares and takes turns and will often initiate sharing himself. She said he navigates it like a typical five year old. He even took one of his most prized toys to Tball practice the other day and gave every kid on his team a turn to play with it. The fact that his cousin is not following "his" rules for his toys is sending him into a spiral and I think it's causing him to regress in behavior. He is snippy with me, rude, quick to anger, and very whiny. I feel like my sweet boy that we worked so hard with is gone because of this cousin visit.

I'm pissed off. I know it's not my nephew's fault. He's five. But he is constantly at our house. My mother in law OFFERED to have him for two weeks knowing that she'd have to go to work.....I'm confused. If you are not able to watch the child, why did you agree to it? She is always asking us to watch him which I feel isn't right. But my husband says it's his nephew and he will watch him at anytime. He's here for two weeks, but his mother (my sister in law) is very..... unique and "impulsive" if you will. She has stated that she'd probably leave her son here all summer if she's able. I will freak the f*** out if that happens. Am I mean? Am i the wrong one here? Is my son being spoiled and mean? What's right and what's wrong here? I need advice. And how do I enforce boundaries?