11-year-old girl gets angry because of cell phone and causes fire. Understand the case better.
An 11-year-old girl set fire to her grandparents' apartment in Patos de Minas last Saturday (14), locked her grandparents in the house and went rollerblading after being banned from using her cell phone. The information was passed on by the Military Police of Minas Gerais.
In his testimony, the grandfather said that he was lying in the bedroom with his wife when his granddaughter asked him to use his cell phone. However, he refused and the girl then said that she was going to the skating rink. Moments later, the couple smelled smoke. When they tried to leave the room, they couldn't because the child had locked the door from the outside. The grandfather broke the door, but because the fire was so strong, he couldn't get through the living room. Learn more about the case below.
Girl had “mood swings”, according to her grandfather
After seeing the fire, two men ripped off the protective screen on the window and the two elderly people had to jump from the 4th floor. The fall was cushioned by mattresses spread on the floor by neighbors. In the statement, the grandfather said that his granddaughter spent several weekends at his house and noticed that she had “mood swings”. He stressed that he is not sure whether the ban on cell phones motivated the child to set fire to the place.
The girl confirmed to the Military Police that she burned the sofa, left her grandparents at home and then went ice skating. Since she was not yet 12 years old, the child was not taken to the police station and was left in the care of her mother. The police contacted the Patos de Minas Child Protection Council to follow up on the incident.
How did the fire start?
According to Minas Gerais Military Police Lieutenant Thiago Rocha, the fire started after the 11-year-old girl set fire to a sofa in the living room and the fire spread throughout the apartment. Firefighters were called to contain the fire and the SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service) team was also called to assist the injured people who jumped from the windows. The grandmother was hospitalized after complaining of pain in her legs and chest. The grandfather and the child were treated at the scene and are in stable condition.
Cell phone addiction
It is not yet possible to confirm that the 11-year-old girl was addicted to her cell phone, but the child's aggressive behavior when she was refused to use the device raises an alert about the limits on smartphone use. For those who don't know, cell phone addiction, also called nomophobia, is an increasingly common problem among young people and children.
So, check out some tips to help your child have healthier smartphone habits and avoid addiction.
Be an example of healthy habits
It all starts with you. Your success in keeping your children away from screens is directly related to the amount of time you spend watching them. Take a close look at your own habits and get them under control first. You are your little one’s greatest role model.
Focus on time and place
It is easier to find exceptions to complex rules. Associate the “screen time” to specific times of day and specific rooms in the house and it will be easier to do. “No screens before breakfast” and “No screens in the bedroom at night” are two good places to start.
Define consequences
Make it clear from the start what the consequences will be for breaking the rules, and be prepared to follow through on your promises. If the consequences are disproportionate or inconsistently applied, you can kiss your rule-following goodbye.
Explain the addictive tricks of technology
Take the time to explain to your children how the programs they watch are designed to engage them and keep them coming back for more. Examples of this include ads and unpredictable pricing. Explore addictive technology and discuss it with your family. Older children will appreciate being included and it will make them more aware of the pitfalls they can fall into. It is also important for children to understand that the ban is there for a reason and is done to protect them.
Just one screen
Watching TV while browsing social media or reading messages is a common activity on the family couch. Curb your multi-screen habits by setting a rule to only use one screen at a time. It can even be a joy to watch TV as a family, since everyone will be focused on the same thing.
Take it easy
Yelling or hitting your child will only make things worse and ruin all the work you’ve done. Take ten deep breaths before dealing with situations that are bothering you and try to talk about them as calmly as possible, explaining what needs to change. Encourage your child to also talk calmly about how they’re feeling and you’ll have a chance to find an alternative solution.
