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But if “multi-tasking” with a screen and interaction with my child bothers me so much because I’m worried about the lesson she’ll take away from it, why do I fi

But if “multi-tasking” with a screen and interaction with my child bothers me so much because I’m worried about the lesson she’ll take away from it, why do I find it perfectly acceptable to behave this way around my wife, family, co-workers, and friends? I always wonder how much of this feeling is due to culture-shift (there wasn't much screen distraction when our parents were our age so when we do this, there is a feeling of guilt) and how much of this is a real concern. For example, when our parents turned on the radio or tape, was that audio distraction? Were we parked in front of the radio and did it have a bad effect on the society?

stinos 13y ago
Such a comparision makes not much sense to me. A smartphone screen takes pretty much all your focus, the amount of distraction is of totally different levels than what a radio provides. For example, try at same time reading (and properly understanding) a mail and have a conversation with somebody. Then try having a conversation with somebody while music is playing, no matter how loud. Ok it gets harder if you actively try to follow spoken words on the radio, but you get my point.
- sbashyal 13y ago
  Radio was a bad analogy but how about books or newspapers? As another commenter has mentioned in this sub-thread, there has always been some kind of attention divide like screen has been for our age. Also, we may discard books as a source of distraction but my question is whether it is so because we are used to it.
  - stinos 13y ago
    Books/newspaper are indeed something else, but still quite different. I'm not sure if this is too general, but I don't think anybody takes a book everywhere he/she goes, and picks it up in the middle of a conversation to read 1 or 2 lines, then put it back again.
DanBC 13y ago
My father read the newspaper at the breakfast table. > how much of this is a real concern Attachment parenting is real, and based in reasonable evidence. But catching a glimpse of the smart phone while your child is playing should be fine.

stinos 13y ago

Such a comparision makes not much sense to me. A smartphone screen takes pretty much all your focus, the amount of distraction is of totally different levels than what a radio provides. For example, try at same time reading (and properly understanding) a mail and have a conversation with somebody. Then try having a conversation with somebody while music is playing, no matter how loud. Ok it gets harder if you actively try to follow spoken words on the radio, but you get my point.

sbashyal 13y ago
Radio was a bad analogy but how about books or newspapers? As another commenter has mentioned in this sub-thread, there has always been some kind of attention divide like screen has been for our age. Also, we may discard books as a source of distraction but my question is whether it is so because we are used to it.
- stinos 13y ago
  Books/newspaper are indeed something else, but still quite different. I'm not sure if this is too general, but I don't think anybody takes a book everywhere he/she goes, and picks it up in the middle of a conversation to read 1 or 2 lines, then put it back again.

DanBC 13y ago

My father read the newspaper at the breakfast table. > how much of this is a real concern Attachment parenting is real, and based in reasonable evidence. But catching a glimpse of the smart phone while your child is playing should be fine.