If you’re a parent reading this, chances are you’re just as guilty as I am for staring at our smartphone with our kids around.
A recent post from Time.com shared the results of a study recording the behavior of 55 adult-child groupings at a fast food restaurant and captured how often the adult used their smartphone.
Don’t Text While Parenting — It Will Make You Cranky
A new study from Boston Medical Center reveals that parents who get absorbed by email, games or other apps have more negative interactions with their children, making them feel like they’re competing for attention with their parents’ gadgets
First off, any adult is not that smart for subjecting their kids and themselves to fast food, but that’s just how I feel. Poor nutrition aside, the interactions captured between the parent-child groups showed how damaging smartphone use can be when with your kids.
Before this was published, my wife and I had already stopped all technology use at the dinner table, but we are far from innocent when it comes to using our phones as Avery runs around our feet wanting attention. And she deserves it, poor girl, nothing is more important than giving her our love!
Since reading the article, we have become more aware of our use when Avery is around, but I know we’re still not perfect. Just look at my Instagram or aother social media accounts and it’s easy to see I have my phone practically shoved in her face A LOT! Sorry, Avery, please forgive me.
Maybe it’s different if you’re using your smartphone with your kid, but I know simply setting the tech aside and just playing is always the better option. Does this mean I’m going to stop capturing pics and videos of her? Nope, but scrolling through Facebook or Instagram feeds will be limited when our sweet girl is begging attention from now on. I mean, just look at that sweet face!
Are you guilty of using your phone or other device and not paying attention to your kids?
Do you have certain rules or guidelines on when/where you can use your tech devices?
I think EVERYONE is guilty on this one and the one’s that aren’t are lying. As for every she is probably wanting to get your phone so she can see pictures of these mythical Girl Scout Cookies she keeps hearing about!
Oh no, she knows better than to want Girl Scout cookies when we have plenty of my NuttZo bread ready to devour! But yes, she still always wants the phone.
I try to minimize my use around the kids but I would be lying if I said it didn’t happen. Most of the time I avoid it by not bringing my phone to the table, but if it is in my pocket…
Ha ha, I hear you man. I’ve toned it down a little, but phone/device use still happens at some point. Very hard to avoid nowadays! Thanks for commenting, and we still need to work together on something some time!