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Parenting in the age of distraction
Have you tried writing a text and talking to your kids at the same time? You can’t do either very well. Just like our kids can’t watch Tik Tok and listen to us or do their math homework at the same time.
As Erika Christakis writes in her article in The Atlantic titled “The Dangers of Distracted Parenting”, “time spent on devices is time not spent actively exploring the world and relating to other human beings.” This is true for both parents and children. Think of the opportunities lost.
This means that when we are engrossed by our devices we arent paying attention to those around us — or only paying attention in a half-hearted way. Think of the message you are sending to those around you. Read on!
Need screen time limits? Create a family technology pact
One of the most important jobs we have as parents is to teach our kids the skills they need for when they leave the home. Family agreements, such as those surrounding technology use, are a conduit for such teaching. Developing self control around a device that is designed to fight you in that endeavor every step of the way is not easy. The part of our brain that controls self control is underdeveloped for our younger children, and these skills temporarily diminish during the early teens. Our kids need our support. Read on for ideas on how to create a family technology pact…