Screen time swapped for face-to-face interaction at D-Stress community event in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Residents of Prestige Jindal City swapped screen time for face-to-face interaction Saturday evening as The Times of India hosted its first community edition of ‘Let's D-Stress' initiative in the city, after two earlier campus events.The session combined expert insights with engaging activities, featuring Dr Eesha Sharma, associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Nimhans, who spoke about the effects of excessive digital use, especially among children. Adding an interactive element, RJ Shaayan Bhattacharya led a lively discussion, encouraging residents to reflect on their own screen habits.Dr Sharma underlined an important guideline — no screen exposure for children below the age of two. She explained that early brain development depends heavily on real-world interactions. "There is experience-dependent learning, which comes from what children engage with, and experience-expectant learning — skills like emotional regulation, decision-making and problem-solving. These do not develop effectively when there is constant digital engagement," she said, noting that many children are missing out on natural learning experiences.She also emphasised the influence of parents. "A child won't do what you tell them, but they do what you do. Their habits are shaped by what they observe at home," she said.The session also stirred nostalgia among residents, who recalled the days of landline phones and minimal screen exposure. Dr Sharma encouraged participants to reconnect with simpler habits — such as meeting neighbours or having offline conversations — to unwind and reduce dependence on devices.Quote box (mugs will be mailed)"Most of us know these things, but hearing it like this really hits home. Phones have become like an extra limb for most people — they only put them down to charge. I've noticed that when they're deliberately kept away, they actually forget about them. That's why consciously setting devices aside is so important" — Harish M, retired Air Force personnel"As parents of two, we're always thinking about how to give our kids the best. The key takeaway for both of us was that boredom is actually good for mental health — that really stayed with us. This session felt as much for us as for our children. We're still working on our own habits, and we'll try to apply what was said and lead by example, rather than just telling them what to do" — Jai Ganesh J and Rukmini S, residents"The programme was really good and well received by the community. Digital detox is such a relevant topic today, and it's great that The Times of India supported and brought this initiative to us" — Sridhar Kantharaj, vice president, apartment association "It was really helpful because, as a mother, I'm facing the same issues with my child. The session helped me understand the concerns, how it's affecting the brain, and what we can do to improve our habits so our children can improve too" — Deepti Agrawal, resident "I really liked the approach — it was very practical. The idea of de-stressing by cutting down on digital use and instead spending time with family really stood out. The way the session was conducted made it easy to relate to, and the steps suggested felt doable for everyday life. It's a meaningful way to manage daily stress and declutter mentally" — Aditya S, resident