Addicted to phone? It can hit bonding with your child
Parents, take note! Your addiction to your smartphone can affect yourparenting skills and prevent you from emotionally bonding with the kids, a new study suggests. Researchers found that in the study when parents spent a long time looking at their phones, their children noticed and tried to seek attention. Researchers from Boston Medical Center went to 15 fast food restaurants and observed the interactions between family members, noting in particular the reactions children had when mom or dad were busy with their smartphones.
Dr Jenny S Radesky, a fellow in developmental behavioural paediatrics and lead author of the study said that experts took detailed notes about the observations. Parents in 40 of the 55 families observed were absorbed in their mobile devices. They seemed more distracted when they were typing and making swiping motions with the fingers than when making phone calls. And almost a third of the parents used their devices continuously throughout their meal. Some children appeared unaffected and ate their meals in silence. Other children were more provocative, with one set of siblings singing 'Jingle bells, Batman smells' to get their father's attention, the 'ABC News' reported.