Egypt’s youth face a new challenge: screens are pulling them away from real‑world responsibility. A major initiative spotlighted by UNICEF Egypt is tackling “internet and gaming addiction” among teens—a problem now considered a national-level issue. That means this isn’t optional—it’s parental disaster territory.

Here’s the story most parents already know: teens wake up, scroll. They grab breakfast with one eye on their screen. Face-to-face conversations feel foreign. And chores? They’re casually dismissed. No rebellion, just a swipe‑past routine: “I’ll do it later”—and later never comes.

But chores aren’t just housework—they’re life lessons. Taking out the trash teaches delayed gratification, loading the dishwasher builds accountability, folding laundry models self-sufficiency. It’s training wheels for adult life—and right now, we’ve unclipped them.

What can we do?

1. Create small, clear tasks. “Wash these dishes” beats “clean your room.” It’s actionable. It’s clear. And they can check it off.

2. Tie chores to screen privileges. We established a rule: tablet time only comes after chores. Simple. Firm. Effective.

3. Talk addiction—but with empathy. Citing UNICEF Egypt’s campaign, explain why screens can hijack our minds. Use family time (or a meal) to set phone boundaries, and show them why balance matters.

4. Use humor to stay human. A joke or two keeps things from getting preachy. I say, “Unless your phone can mop, you still owe me floor duty.” My teen rolls her eyes—and then gets to work.

Why it matters: if kids grow up thinking chores are optional, entitlement becomes a habit. And that bleeds into relationships, budgets, work ethic. So re-establish structure now—before adulting asks for receipts.

Egypt’s spotlight on teen screen addiction is a reminder: we need to step in, even when temptation is just a tap away. And as long as we parent with consistency, clarity, and a sense of humor, these swipe-addicted teenagers are still salvageable.

So tonight: set a chore-screen checkpoint—determine the task, determine the screen time. Keep it fair, keep it fun, and stay your clever 42-year-old self. Because raising responsible adults starts with teaching them responsibility—no downloads necessary.