Summer break tests parents in Ahmedabad, leaves helplines buzzing

Trouble with teens

Ahmedabad: Helplines such as Abhayam and Childline are reporting a sharp rise in distress calls since schools closed for summer vacation in late April, with coordinators flagging a jump in cases involving aggression, screen addiction, and runaway incidents.

“We typically receive two to three cases a week, but that number has now climbed to one to two cases every day. Parents are reporting issues ranging from anger and aggression to phone addiction and children leaving home. Vacation is certainly a contributing factor, though we are also seeing a broader upward trend in interpersonal issues,” a helpline coordinator said.

In one recent case, counsellors intervened after a 12-year-old girl began displaying aggression and refusing meals. “She was heavily addicted to screens and showed clear behavioural issues. What began as an escape mechanism in a household with only an elderly grandmother and a working mother eventually spiralled into a serious problem, driven largely by boredom at home,” a counsellor explained, adding that the child has since been referred to a psychologist.

Social media addiction was a reason in some of the cases where the parents were worried about their children talking to strangers online. Lifestyle aspiration was another reason where the teens were found to be stealing money to fund their trips or visits to cafes.

Experts say the shift reflects changing socioeconomic dynamics. They pointed to shrinking play areas in modern high-rises, the prevalence of digital devices, and a steady erosion of social circles and face-to-face interaction.

“Summer holidays once meant visits to relatives and time spent with cousins. That tradition continues in many families, but its frequency has dropped sharply in today’s fast-paced life. Children need to feel warmth and belonging, and boredom should not be treated as a problem to be addressed by cramming the day with activities,” a psychologist said.