I am hoping this thread will alleviate my concerns. In the hairdressers the other day a met a lady who ran a preschool. I am a secondary teacher. We both have a teenagers.
Various things were discussed but the matter which worried me the most was what she said about the children coming to her. They lack basic communication skills. Increasingly can't sing nursery rhymes, count 123. Or attempt to use a pencil. Social skills and behaviour are increasingly challenging. And the reason she gave was the mums (and dads of course) spending time on their smartphones rather than interact with their child. I have witnessed mums ignoring kids in coffee shops when it's just the two of them. And once in Cildren's A&E a little girl (whose dad was comforting a poorly baby) decided she wanted to play with me. My son and I talked to her and showed her how the toys worked. Eventually my 9yo read to her. She was a delight and the dad kept smiling appreciatively. I had noticed in the corner a young women constantly on her mobile phone. I felt for her. Clearly her little one must be in cubicles, and for some reason she could be with them. Poor thing. The dad was called in the little girl said bye bye. Can you imagine after an hour of entertaining this delightful girl this woman stood up and called her. The child said no mummy I want to stay here. The woman then addressed me and said she's never been so good - well I couldn't help myself, I responded "perhaps if you gave her as much attention as you do your phone she would !!" She looked ashamed and left. Even my son commented. "I'm glad you don't spend 'that'much time on your phone mummy". Emphasis on 'that' meaning I was guilty of the same really.
To hear the new generation are going 'backwards' developmentally really concerns me. Please please, someone reassure me!
For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.
Parenting
Developmental damage due to too much time on their smart phone
Debsmumof3 · 02/01/2016 09:51
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