CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Is Screen Time Ruining Family Time?

save article
profile picture of Emily Windram
By Emily Windram, Intern
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image

21st century kids get a lot of flack for staring at their phones or tablets all day, but clinical psychologist and author Catherine Steiner-Adair wants to draw attention to another group of culprits: their parents.

Steiner-Adair, who wrote the book The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age, explained to the Boston Globe that parents need to be very careful about choosing their tablets over their toddlers, even if it’s just for a minute or two. Young children "don’t understand the lost boundary between work and home,” she said. “At the park, if Mom or Dad is pushing a swing and on their phone at the same time, the child may think, ‘I’m boring,’ or at the least, less interesting than what’s happening on the phone.”

One-on-one time is so important, says Jenny Radesky, MD, of the Boston University School of Medicine, that parents who are devoted to their devices run the risk of impeding their kids’ development.

"Young kids’ brains are really wired to seek out interaction with their parents,” she told the Boston Globe, adding that when kids look at their parents’ faces during new situations, the parents’ reaction "helps them gauge how they should react and also helps them make sense of the experience.” When the parent’s face is blank — and lit up by that bluish glow of a screen — it can be discouraging.

Early last year, Radesky and her colleagues conducted a study for Pediatrics, observing 55 groups of young kids and caregivers eating at fast-food restaurants. Forty of the caregivers used some device during the meals, and some ignored their kids’ attempts at grabbing their attention.

To counter the iPhone zombie effect, both Radesky and Steiner-Adair urge families to set boundaries for tech time, and make sure that parents follow these boundaries too (kids know the meaning of “hypocrite,” warns Steiner-Adair). Of course, the situation is different for every parent, especially if they need their devices for work, but giving kids the attention they need is crucial.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Meredith Gaudreau and John Gaudreau posing with their children on the ice hockey rink
Teammates of Late Johnny Gaudreau Celebrate His Daughter's 2nd Birthday
By Wyndi Kappes
Michael Strahan is seen in studio at ABC's "Good Morning America" in Times Square on August 15, 2024 in New York City.
NFL Host and GMA Anchor Michael Strahan Is Officially a Grandpa
By Wyndi Kappes
mom and toddler reading a book together
Mom’s TikTok Shares the 9 Magic Minutes That Make a Big Impact on Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
New Sibling Gift Ideas-hero
30 Sweet Gifts for Siblings From Baby, According to Parents
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
gifts-for-pregnant-friend-HERO
42 Gifts for Pregnant Women That Are Cute and Congratulatory
By Martina Garvey
isaac rochell and his baby daughter
NFL Star Isaac Rochell’s Take on Being a Black Dad Goes Viral
By Wyndi Kappes
sofia richie grainge and newborn baby
Sofia Richie Grainge on Savoring That 90-Minute Newborn Nap Break
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
baby baptism shoes and gold cross necklace
17 Baby Baptism Gifts That Bring the Blessings
By Martina Garvey
Eva mendes smiling
Eva Mendes Always Has This in Her Bag as a Mom of Two
By Wyndi Kappes
dad kissing baby at home
The Best Gifts for New Dads, According to Parents
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
mom and grandma sitting with baby in kitchen
Viral Video: Grandma’s Take on Disagreeing With Your Child’s Parenting
By Wyndi Kappes
mom looking at social media on smartphone while breastfeeding baby at home
Viral Video Shows How Overwhelming Social Media Can Be for New Parents
By Wyndi Kappes
Ayo Edebiri attends the red carpet for FX's Premiere of "The Bear" Season 3 at El Capitan Theatre on June 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
The Bear Star Ayo Edebiri Says Kids Should Be Welcomed in Restaurants
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
concerned mom comforting child on the couch at home
How to Deal With Mom Guilt
Fact Checked by G. O’Hara
mom sitting with baby outside of home on summer day
Summer Babies Can Come With Some Serious FOMO, Mom Explains
By Wyndi Kappes
hilary duff struggles with balancing time with newborn and other kids
Hilary Duff on Balancing Time With a Newborn and Older Kids
By Wyndi Kappes
gerber baby 2024 sonny mcleod
Meet 2024 Gerber Baby and Chief Growing Officer Akil "Sonny" McLeod
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
mother and father cuddling newborn baby in hospital bed after labor and delivery
40 Amazing Push Present Ideas to Make a New Mom Feel Loved
By Martina Garvey
chrissy teigen speaking at the aura digital parenthood summit event
Why Chrissy Teigen Believes in Sharing Messy Parenting Moments Online
By Wyndi Kappes
nate burleson and family
Nate Burleson on His Ideal Father’s Day and Parenting Philosophy
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List