A small study released today says mobile phones cause a significant distraction for parents when they are taking care of their kids.
Researchers from Boston Medical Center went to different fast-food restaurants where they watched 55 different interactions between caregivers and their children for the study, according to UPI. Forty of the caregivers, mostly parents, used their phones during the meal, while sixteen played with their phones during the meal. Three of the adults gave their phone to their kids to keep them busy.
Dr. Jenny S. Radesky, lead author of the study and pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, talked about the importance of observing the interactions while the caregivers and children were eating, HNGN reported.
"We chose to observe caregivers and children during meals because this is a daily time routine in which face-to-face caregiver-child interactions are considered beneficial," Radesky said.
In one of the interactions, the study reported an adult with a little girl picking up her phone just as she sat down and using it throughout the whole meal, according to NBC News.
"The girl keeps eating, then gets up to cross the room to get more ketchup," the study reported. "Caregiver is not watching her do this; she is looking down at the phone . . . Still no conversation . . . Now girl's head appears to be looking right at caregiver, and caregiver looks up but not at girl . . ."
Radesky said the lesson from the study isn't that people should through away their cell phones entirely, but that people need to find a limit for using these devices when around others, especially their kids, UPI reported.
"When I talk about it with siblings or friends, everyone struggles with it," Radesky said. "We want some guidance and balance. We need to stay connected with email, work and friends, and still be present with our kids."
Dr. Gene Beresin, executive director of the MGH Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, agreed with Radesky, ABC News reported. Although he was not involved in the study, Beresin said there are special times in interactions between parents and their kids where developing connections is important.
"The moral of the story is be observant," Beresin said. "Be mindful. Be aware. Both in what you are doing and in what you are teaching your children."
