Phones Reduce Social Interaction

A few weeks ago I saw this commercial advertising the new Windows Phone 7 on t.v. At the end it said "It's time for a phone to save us from our phones."

It bothered me because this isn't that far from reality. I see parents ignoring their children and spouse by texting and checking facebook on their phones all the time at the library, park, restaurant, doctor's office you name it. What is wrong with us that we can't just sit and be? We feel that we have to be doing something or be entertained all the time? People no long make small talk with each other read books in waiting rooms. I think humankind is begining to lack polite social skills because they are too connected to the social networks.

It has recently been brought to my attention that parents are using these 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. 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, remindinng 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 developement. Try packing an enterainment kit for your child in a gallon size Ziplock bag for restaurants that include things like crayons, coloring book, mini playdough, mini magnadoodle. Toss a few small items in there to pull from your bag of tricks when they get restless. My 4 year old daughter has a "going out" purse that I tell her to fill up with whatever she wants to play with and my 17 month old son is most entertained by cooking utensils right now so I always have a few toy pots and pans, pretend food, and a spoon for him. It just seems like our society has regressed back to "children should be seen and not heard" with the progression of new technology.