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Cell Phones in the Park

As I pushed my double stroller into the local park, I saw a father sitting on the perimeter of the sand box with his toddler playing in the sand next to him. He was holding his cell phone and fiddling with it. Meanwhile, his daughter was playing by herself. I was troubled, to say the least.

Unfortunately, my day at the park was not unique. I take my children there frequently, and I often observe parents talking on the phone while their children play. I confess that it bothers me. Children will play on their own if they must, but they desperately want our attention. When we spend their playtime on our cell phones, I fear we communicate disinterest in them. Imagine going out to lunch with a friend who talks on her phone instead of talking to you. Children connect with other people through play. When we take the time to play with them, we are building our relationships with them and communicating their importance to us.

Source: Amy Wickstrom, PhD, Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor
More Than a Toy (www.morethanatoy.com)