Healthy Kids: Technology and parenting

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Technology means work and outside pressures can’t be avoided at home, but these blurred boundaries may make it difficult to be present with kids.

Dr. Annette St. Pierre-Makoul joined us in the studio to discuss this and more.

 

Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics:

• Looked at parental use of mobile technology around young children.
• Caused internal tension and conflicts.
• Resulted in negative interactions with their kids.
• It’s a challenge for parents to balance the two.
• Parental Struggles:
• Feel like they are in more than one place at a time.
• Feeling like they are still at work.
• Keep up socially with friends and relatives.
• Cook dinner and attend to their kids.
• Boundaries are blurred!

Study Design:

• Moms, dads and grandmothers were studied.
• Internal struggle between multitasking phone, work and children.
• Resulted in information overload and emotional tensions.
• Family routines were interrupted, such as meal time.

Trickle-Down Effect:

• Emotional response to info on mobile device …
• Caused them to react to their children differently.
• Children then had ‘attention-seeking- behaviors’ that …
• Resulted in parents snapping negatively at the kids.
• Positives of Mobile Technology and Parenting:
• ‘Escape’ from the boredom and stress of parenting at home.
• Ability to work from home.
• Easier communication with estranged family members.
• Allow children some independent time.
• Feel relevant at work and other parts of life.

Negatives of Mobile Technology and Parenting:

• Fewer verbal and nonverbal interactions with children.
• Mobile technology is unpredictably demanding of attention.
• Great emotional investment is also seen.
• Parents are using mobile devices 3 hours per day (on average).

Recommendations:

• Set boundaries.
• Create a family plan including unplugged spaces or times of day.
• Track your mobile use.
• Create a filter or block to avoid temptation.
• Apps like ‘Moment’ and ‘Quality Time’ may help.
• Identify top device stressors.
• Use technology only when your children are occupied.