In this modern age, everyone is using a smartphone. Before, we don’t use it all the time since it’s mainly used for communication. But now almost everything that we do in our lives is connected to a phone – from our food, necessities, and work it seems that we can’t simply go by without our smartphones.
Everything is now within reach with just a flick of a finger thanks to the Internet. The general population is just obsessed with looking down on their phones since it’s also mainly the source of entertainment for everyone.
In fact, according to one research, 28% of Americans go online almost constantly with the young people leading the race. Some experts are also starting to get deeply concerned with parents’ increasing smartphone obsession due to the potentially debilitating consequences to the growth and development of babies and toddlers.
A group of scientists from the University of Michigan and Illinois State University conducted a small study to further inspect how the parents’ addiction to digital technology is affecting their children. The group surveyed 170 two-parent families, with the researchers asking mothers and fathers to complete the questionnaires separately.
Nearly half of the parents or 48% admit that technology (cellphones, tablets, computers, etc.) diverts their attention away from their children as it interrupts family time once a day.
The researching team also observed the children over a two-month period to see how many times they whined, sulked, got frustrated easily, threw fits, or showed signs of hyperactivity or restlessness. They found out that even the slightest amount of technoference resulted in child behavior issues.
How does parents’ smartphone obsession affect the children?
Not too long ago, security software company AVG Technologies surveyed 6,000 families with kids ranging from 8-13 years old in ten countries including Brazil, Czech Republic, and New Zealand, about their tech use. Over half of the children said that their parents are always on their devices while 32% reported feeling “unimportant” when parents are on their phones.
There are many things to disrupt a parent’s emotional bond with their children. But nowadays, it seems that technology is doing more harm than good as it also becomes a barrier when it comes to parent-child interaction.
For example, a growing child needs constant interaction in order to help build their learning, behavior, and health. When a parent responds to a baby’s cries by picking them up, for example, the back-and-forth helps build the baby’s brain development.
A quick scroll or response to an email may not seem like a big deal, but babies and toddlers are constantly observing the world around them. Parents who are absorbed in their phone can’t teach their kids their crucial skills, such as language.
Then again, technology has been a great help to most of us, especially to parents. There are tons of advice and lifehacks online which they can use to make things easier for them and their child. We just need to use our devices moderately as physical and emotional interactions with your kids are a much-preferred way of learning.
Watch the clip below to learn more on how your mobile devices are affecting your daily interactions with your kids.
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