Parenting is hard. Sometimes parenting is so challenging that, by comparison, your smartphone becomes an easy escape. And even if you’d like to use your phone less, it’s hard to make a plan amid the daily grind of parenting tasks and obligations. After all, who wouldn’t rather watch TikToks of the latest viral dance instead of listening to siblings bicker? The list of alternatives goes on and on. You could be checking sports scores, answering one last work email, shopping, finishing the grocery list, browsing itineraries for a solo vacation, texting a friend. At some point, though, your phone can become a crutch for coping with hard feelings and situations. Too much screen time can also feel alienating for both you and your child. If that’s the case, don’t feel guilty, because you’re not alone. More than half of parents say they’ve resolved to spend less time on their phone, according to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital’s national poll of 2,044 parents of children 18 and younger. Parents reported often setting this goal at milestone moments, like the new year, birthdays, or the start of school.
SEE ALSO:
4 tips for a successful digital ‘detox’
Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan School of Medicine who conducts research on family screen time, says that parents really shouldn’t blame themselves if they turn to their phones frequently.”It is hard to disengage from our phones,” Radesky says, noting that the devices are effectively designed to compete for our attention.
Mashable https://mashable.com/article/how-to-use-your-phone-less