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Source: All Pro Dad
Matt Haviland 2. Your child feels insignificant.

Have you ever noticed how many parents are looking down at their Think of the silent message distracted parenting sends to your
phones and not engaging with their children? I see it all the time at kids. For a child whose dad is constantly on his phone, it’s easy to
believe that “something else is more important than me.” Failure to
fully engage in your children’s lives robs them of any experiences
that prove they are worth somebody’s undivided attention, thus
reducing self-esteem and confidence. And it robs you of invaluable
opportunities to be fully present in moments that only happen once.

3. It delays your child’s brain growth.

I will not deny we all have important obligations. What I will refute
is the use of devices as a form of babysitting, which can seriously
inhibit brain development. The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends no screen time for children under 18 months and only
two hours a day for children over the age of five, including teenag-
ers. Are your children on screens for beneficial reasons, or just so
parks, libraries, and even in homes, and it breaks my heart. We you can do your own thing? Also be wise to the behavior you mod-
have a generation of boys and girls growing up with minimal parent el to your child through continual personal screen time.
interaction. Maybe that’s you. I am not here to condemn but to
awaken. Why? Because if adjustments are not made soon, the 4. Your child does not develop communication skills.
dangers of distracted parenting will manifest into considerably
greater problems as these children age.
It is not possible for a distracted parent to hold authentic dialogue
with a child. A parent is a child’s first teacher, and conversational
We are a decade into smartphones and social media—a decade skills children will need to function as adults are drastically hin-
into distracted parenting. Did you know that 90 percent of a child’s dered when families are not actively communicating. Around the
brain growth happens by age five? And in subsequent years, chil- dinner table is one of the top examples of where dialogue can oc-
dren learn who they are and how they fit in and they develop per- cur, but do not underestimate car rides, before and after school,
sonal values and beliefs. They need their parents in these forma- and even at parks, libraries, and social gatherings.
tive years. But our kids don’t get what they need from parents who
constantly give their attention to lesser things. Unless we are really
disciplined with our phones, we’re going to hurt our children. Here 5. Your child doesn’t develop empathy.
are 5 dangers of distracted parenting.
“The phone can wait; precious moments with your children cannot.”
1. It stunts your child’s emotional growth. I once saw a toddler tip over backward in her chair at the library.
Coming to her mom crying and looking for comfort, she was met
When parents are distracted and unengaged with their children, with resistance. The reason? Mom was too busy on Facebook.
those children miss out on a crucial buffer to help them express Whether two or twelve, when our children continually receive the
emotions through healthy outlets. This void can potentially create message that their problems are not ours, they struggle to develop
behavioral issues. Dad, get in the game, literally. An actively en- empathy because they rarely received it themselves. That spilled
gaged father helps relieve his children of stored-up energy in a cup, lost item, or botched school project may not seem like a big
positive way and helps set boundaries when physical play be- deal to us—but it is for them.
comes too aggressive.

82 “ኢትዮጵያ ለዘላለም ትኑር ” ድንቅ መጽሔት - ታሕሳስ 2013