How parents can break their smart phone addiction - and help kids feel more important

Are your children competing with your phone for your attention?

​Do you ever feel like your kids are competing with your phone for your attention? Many kids do. Indeed, more than half of today’s kids feel their parents spend too much time on their phones. And believe it or not, a significant number of parents agree. 
 
What’s the big deal? Well, the journal Child Development suggests that our mobile phone behavior can have huge impacts on our children’s behavior. Children who feel overlooked by technology-focused parents are more prone to whining, sulking, frustration, and tantrums. And it’s not only behavior that’s impacted, but development as well.
 
What can we do?

Being 100% present is possible

Our phones are our connection to an increasingly busy world, right? Email never stops. Work constantly demands our attention. Friends and family are always texting. Sure, but… It’s time to look up from the phone and see these little people who are seeking our attention, too.
  
One of the best gifts you can give your children is being present while feeding their imagination with the wonder and magic. “How can I do that?” you ask. One of the best ways is with storytelling.
 
When creating your own stories you are 100% present, you can add in things unique to your child or family, you can use storytelling to talk about subjects that your child may be struggling with or make them silly and laugh together. Sometimes parents don’t feel like their stories will be “good enough” but just look at your child’s delighted face and you will know that whatever you come up with will be perfect right now. Even a few minutes of being present and creating with your child is worth a LOT. Try it, you and your child will both be delighted that you did.