Jocelyn Rivas
Professor Pappas
English 101
10 December 2018
The Worst Crime Most Parents are Guilty of
Sitting across from me at Panera is my friend Cindy. We had just gone up to get our food after the pager buzzed and flashed red lights around the device. After picking up the spoon to drink my chicken soup, she stops me, “Let me take a snap.” I put the silver spoon down, watch it submerge in the soup, and smile for the picture. Teenagers can’t seem to go out without uploading a picture on Snapchat stating where they are, who they’re with, and what they’re doing. According to a survey conducted in 2015, “teens aged 13-18 engage with screen media for more than 6.5 hours each day” (Odgers, 1). Cell phones are what we cling to, can’t stay away from, and can’t seem to get enough of. A frightening reality is that parents are also affected by technology, phone usage has been shown to interfere with bonding time. The hypocrisy of adults seeps through when they criticize teenagers for cell phone use.
Erika Christakis argues that cell phones have posed a major barrier in the family setting. In some cases, cell phones result in parents pushing their children aside and being unaware of their surroundings. In “The Dangers of Distracted Parenting,” Christakis makes it evident how critical it is for a parent to be there for their child, not only physically but emotionally as well. Christakis begins by throwing a ridiculous and somewhat comical statement at readers. She exaggerates how distracted we become when glued to a screen by stating that it could result in “failure to notice a clown on a unicycle” (Christakis, 1). This exposes how unaware of our surroundings we become when controlled by our phone.
Christakis utilizes the results of many experiments to move her argument along. One of the experiments tested how easily parents avert their attention from teaching their kids a word and resort to answering the phone. It was found that when the phone was answered, the word wasn’t learned. It disrupted the child and didn’t allow him/her to be fully attentive. Vocabulary development was prevented by something as simple as a phone call.
One of the most important lines in the article is that time wasted on “devices is time not spent exploring the world” (Christakis, 1). Rather than giving children more screen time, parents could bond with their kids and do something productive together. Free time is a perfect opportunity to bond with your child. Something as fun and easy as baking something together or playing a board game is a way to enjoy each other’s company while talking. Family time is important and what ultimately determines the strength of the relationship.
Cell phones aren’t only a barrier in households but also when it comes to safety. It is well understood by most people that numerous car accidents have occurred at the cost of a device. Glancing over to the cup holder to get a quick look at who sent that text message can be fatal, but what many are unaware of is the fact that “as smartphone adoption rose, childhood ER visits increased” (Christakis, 2). This doesn’t mean that all kids have gone to the emergency room because of a parent on the phone while driving. Christakis is coming from a broad perspective, parents might be unaware of what dangerous situation their child is in because they’re on the phone. Perhaps the parent is, in fact, right in front of the child and on a walk. If the distance between the stroller and the parent is separated by a phone, chances are the parent will run the child right into something. The point is, any level of distraction poses children at risk.
Cognitive abilities are also delayed by phones. This is a critical point in the argument Christakis makes because it places the child in a situation where he or she may have a difficult time in school. The experiment Christakis mentioned to develop her point was one conducted on infants and toddlers. The infants who grew up with an “emotionally responsive speech style knew twice as many words” (Christakis, 2). The constant interaction of talking to your children and being there for them when needed will make them want to talk to you. They will seek a conversation and make attempts to mimic your speech, which is key in their development and speech.
A child will be less likely to seek communication with the parent if they’re unresponsive to the child’s needs. Erika Christakis refers to Linda Stone, who is very knowledgeable in technology, to provide a viewpoint that touches base on the emotional effects of phones. Stone states that staring at a screen “can interrupt an emotional cueing system” (Christakis, 1). This emotional system Stone mentions directly involves communication. Dialogue between parent and child is critical and is what can allow or prevent vocabulary development. The truth is that it’s all in the hands of the parent. We don’t have the right to put a kid aside in order to satisfy our phone addiction.
Although Christakis places emphasis on how necessary it is to pay attention to your child, she makes it clear that it is impossible to watch their every move. Most adults have to juggle parenting with work while spending quite some time running errands and thinking about paying bills. The schedule many parents follow can be very busy.
Parents can’t expect to be with their child every second they’re with them because it’s impossible. Short moments of separation are advantageous, “especially as children get older and require more independence” (Christakis, 3). Not only does it allow children learn to do things for themselves but also permits the parent to get things done. Besides, always being with your children will only make them extremely dependent on you. It’s better to get things done in peace while checking in on the child to ensure their safety.
I agree with the statement Christakis makes, that parents should have brief periods of separation from their child. My family is very large in number and I just can’t picture my father having to haul five kids with him to go pay a bill or my mom cooking with all of us at the kitchen. Often times, while I help my mom clean the house, my siblings are jumping on the trampoline or coloring. It seems silly to me to be in the mindset that every second you’re awake is governed by the face of your child
A second point I agree with is how important communication is. In high school, I had a variety of friends but only hung out with certain ones. I remember going out to eat with a friend in high school but at the table, she was on her phone the whole time. To me, that’s just rude and a waste of my time. On the other hand, when I decide to go somewhere with close friends we just laugh and talk for the duration that we are together. Now that, talking and enjoying each other’s presence, is something valuable.
Not only Erika Christakis has devoted her time to explain the negative impacts of devices in homes. Another study, by Jenny S. Radesky and seven others, depicts the interaction between parents and children at a public restaurant in Boston. The observation was conducted on “55 caregivers, 40 used a mobile device” (Radesky, et.al, e845). This indicates that about 73 percent of adults were on their phones and not talking to their school-aged kids. Parents should be making conversation with their children. Something as simple as asking about how their day has been so far can erupt a discussion.
The authors state that parents enveloped by their phone tend to “ignore the child’s behavior… and then react with a scolding tone” (Radesky, et.al e847). If you’re concentrated on something you will be upset when interrupted. That is the case for parents when their kids try to get their attention and they’re too busy on their phone. I wasn’t stunned by the fact that “smartphones and tablets were provided to some toddlers” (Radesky, et.al, e847) because that’s something I see quite often when I go out to eat or even at church. Parents give their kids phones to calm them down because devices are a distraction. I find that my five year old brother constantly asks me for my phone to either watch a movie or play games. He sits very quietly on his bed whenever I let him use it, which is exactly what parents intend to do by giving their phone to their kids in public areas, ensure that their child is calm. I disagree with this commonly used method of quieting children down because it conditions them to think that screaming means technology but doesn’t correct or discipline them on why their actions aren’t acceptable.
Families are playing a really dangerous game and we are losing the battle to a device. Loss of communication in person could explain how teenagers in present time appear to never be able to stay away from words such as “um” and can’t seem to get a sentence without saying “like.” We truly sound as if we haven’t spent a great portion of our life in school. Sounding like an educated citizen is what has the potential to get us the job at an interview and it gives us that good grade in a public speaking class. Expanding your vocabulary goes beyond the walls of “spend time with your family.” It’s extremely beneficial to the individual.
Most importantly, “we do much more by simply doing less” (Christakis, 4). Less time on your phone means less time away from your kid. After all, was that Facebook status more important than your child?
Works Cited
Christakis, Erika. “The Dangers of Distracted Parenting.” The Atlantic, 16 June 2018, https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/the-dangers-of-distracted-parenting/561752/.
Jenny S. Radesky, Caroline J. Kistin, Barry Zuckerman, et.al. “Patterns of Mobile Device Use by Caregivers and Children During Meals in Fast Food Restaurants.” AAP News & Journals, 01 April 2014, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/133/4/e843.
Odgers, Candace. “Smartphones are Bad for Some Adolescents, Not All.” Nature, 22 February 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121807/pdf/nihms-985356.pdf.