I've had friends come over to "visit" with me and my kids and constantly be scrolling down their iPhone making sure they didn't miss anything important because obviously my kids and I are not. Or when people are at dinner or in a meeting and have their phone under the table playing games, texting, checking the weather, facebook, or e-mails. Why does my generation have to be constantly entertained or distracted from other humans around them? We don't want our children to have rude table manners yet it's ok for us. People no long make small talk with each other read books in waiting rooms. I think humankind is beginning to lack polite social skills because they are too connected to the social networks.
I say all this because I have noticed moms during story time at the library texting and surfing the web instead of engaging with their children. I see it at the park and at Chic-fil-a and even at the pool or while driving. Not only is it dangerous, but by ignoring our kids we are teaching them to ignore us. We are teaching them and our spouses that they come second to our facebook "friends." When I tell parents that the number one thing they can do to improve the behavior of their child is to connect with them through playing with them I mean turn off the t.v., your cell phone, ipod, and computer and just be with your child. I feel like texting and keeping up with "friends" is a drug. Like people are jonesin' for a hit of the Internet. They crave it, they need it, they want it, they have to have it. Wouldn't it be great if we felt this way about our kids and our spouse. But instead we are too distracted to desire them. It is easier to distract ourselves or our kids with t.v. than to deal with behavior issues. Just imagine how filled our kids would feel if we spent the same amount of time connecting with them as we do connected to the Internet.
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| This is what I use as my kid's entertainment bag. |
Parents are using their phones as babysitters when they are out in restaurants, doctor's offices, or in the car so as to keep their child quiet and peaceful. While this may seem like a good idea I believe it denies your child the opportunity to practice social skills out in public. It just seems like our society has regressed back to "children should be seen and not heard" with the progression of new technology. Kids need to learn how to behave and follow directions and use manners all of which cannot be practiced when given a device to shut them up. I teach my children how to behave appropriately in restaurants, cars, and doctor's offices by modeling appropriately behavior, role playing with them ahead of time, reminding them while there, and allowing them to learn from their bad choices through natural consequences or verbal praise for good choices. Now, they don't always do as they are told, but practice makes perfect, right. :) Although it is convenient for the parent and more pleasant for the people around them I do not think it is the healthiest thing for a young child's brain development. Try packing an entrainment bag for your child instead. You can use a gallon size Ziplock bag filled with things like crayons, coloring book, mini play dough, mini magnadoodle. Toss a few small items in there to pull from your bag of tricks when they get restless.
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| This everything inside the bag. |
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