Put Down the Phone

 A recent study done by a pediatrician may shed some light on the epidemic of digital madness in this country.

A pediatrician noticed parents sitting in her waiting room, with their children, who were more invested in what was happening on their phones than what their children were doing.

This gave the pediatrician the idea to do a more thorough study.

So, she tracked 55 parents while they were having dinner with their children and found that 40 of them spent the entire meal looking at their phones.

Now, I’m no math wiz, but that comes out to roughly 72% – 72% of parents are more interested in their digital lives than they are in their children.

I’ve mentioned on several occasions, in various columns, how our seemingly innocent acts can have a big impact on our children.

And, further, how these acts may well be adding to the scourge of obesity, ADHD and other 21st Century ailments

There is no status update that is more important than looking at your children, no Tweet or e-mail more precious than your child’s voice.

While this digital mania not only shows children that their parents care very little about them, it also reinforces their need for the next high tech device they can get their hands on.

Which, inevitably, only fuels the ADHD problem that has wreaked endless havoc on our civilization.

Those little smiles and giggles will only last so long – wouldn’t it be a shame to miss even one because you were too busy looking at Facebook?

We have got to return to a simpler time, whether in our minds or in our homes, and we have to take our children there with us.

While the digital age has made a regular childhood, one consisting of swimming holes, baseball games and bike rides, more difficult, we only add to that difficulty when we encourage children to ignore the sunshine and opt instead for a video screen.

What message is a child receiving when, while sitting at the dinner table, their parents are busy staring at their phones?

First off, they are learning that they are not interesting enough to be paid attention to by their own parents.

Secondly, they’re learning that they want what mom and dad have and, you can bet, they will use it in the exact same way.

Thirdly, they are learning how to treat their children, your grandchildren.

Set the phone down now!

It is so important that we pay attention to our children, whether they are drooling and mumbling infants or whining and griping teens.

Because no matter how old they are, or how old they get, they will always thrive on their parents’ teaching and attention.

And, as everyone knows, the best way to teach is to do.

Or, in this case, not do.