Is it just us, or have you also been noticing more and more toddlers “plugged in” at the dinner table?

We understand that couple time can be very hard to come by. And we all crave adult conversation, especially when enjoying a restaurant meal.  As single parents, we also know it’s not always easy to get just 10 minutes of downtime. But we can’t help but wonder if all these kids on cell phones is some sort of American trend.  What do you think?

Almost half of the top 100-selling apps in the iTunes App Store are for preschool and elementary-aged children! Sure, these kids might be practicing their ABCs as their parents get some adult time.

But … we wonder how all this media usage affects young kids?

Please know: No judgments @Singlemommyhood – ever! We know that many of you consider iPhones and other technology innovations great teaching tools. And are justifiably proud of what your kids’ tech savvy.  Many of you are wary of too much  screen time, especially for young kids.

We’re *curious* to know what YOU think.   So, we’d love to hear your thoughts:

If you have a toddler, do you let him/her play on your phone?

If so, do you consider your phone a teaching tool?

Or is offering your phone to your child a last resort when you’re desperate?

~~~~~~

Photo courtesy of purplelime

Related posts:

1. Is parenting more challenging today? Rachel and I buzz back and forth constantly. We live...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This weekend when I went out to dinner, I was floored.

The family at the next table — a mom with her two tween daughters — ordered their meals and immediately pulled out their iPhones.

I tried not to stare, but each one of them was tap-tap-tapping away. They didn’t talk to each other or even look up. Everyone was in her own virtual world. Only when the meals arrived did they look up. But they’d placed their iPhones strategically next to their plates.

So, the next morning I buzzed our own Dr. Leah, aka the Sanity Fairy.

Here’s what I wanted to know: Is this the direction I’m heading with my own family? I believed my tween daughter needed a cell phone for safety — and my own peace of mind.

Now I’m worried: Is this “starter” cell phone a gate way to what looked to me like full blown Internet addiction?

Here’s what Dr. Leah said:  “I’m not sure that ‘addiction’ is an apt description or a realistic worry. The hallmark of addiction is secrecy. And there’s nothing secret about this familiar scene.”

It’s so tempting to think that technology has revolutionized everything. But honestly, some things about family life never change.

Here’s what I mean: When I was a kid my mother would occasionally (when my father wasn’t home for dinner) allow my sister and me to read a book at the dinner table.  And we’d all read in companionable silence.

But, my mother encouraged conversation. She’d ask about what we were reading or if we liked whatever she had cooked. In other words, my mother made an effort to connect with us.  And my sister and I were expected to respond.

As a parent, I made the same effort and expected the same civility from my own kids. But other parents make different choices.  Therefore, they experience different outcomes. It’s really just that simple.

So, is this really addiction? Not really. Moreover, the culprits are not iPhones, Twitter, Facebook or anything else.

It really comes down to our own parenting choices — and the behavior we model for our own kids.

Frankly, I’m still wondering if any of you worry, too.

Are you struggling with parenting choices and technology?

What efforts have you made to keep real conversation flowing with your kids?

Related posts:

1. iPhone apps as babysitters? Is it just us, or have you also been noticing...
2. Are you a choice mom? Despite our solo mom status, we’ve got much to learn...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

It has gotten really bad over here.

Ever since I started to work as a newspaper reporter, I’ve been glued to a computer (I had to! It was my job.) Now that I have a laptop and an iPhone, I’m always “hooked up.”

My iPhone wakes me up every morning (the harp alarm!), and before I get out of bed, I’m checking my email. I do wait until I’m having my coffee to check Twitter and Facebook. And I’ve never Tweeted on a date. But still.

Not a weekend passes without checking the Internet.

For something super special — like traveling to New York City with my kid –  sure, I’ll take a breather. But going ALL weekend without checking in? Definitely not. (And, yes, this has gotten on my new guy’s nerves!)

I’m not alone. Parenting.com recently highlighted “Why moms are at risk for Internet addiction.

Of course, I’ve been buzzing back and forth on this topic with Dr. Leah. She told me that psychologists have been hotly debating about Internet addiction.  Should it be an official diagnosis like alcohol dependency? Yikes!

It’s so easy to see how this all starts. Loneliness, isolation, and hay wire schedules typically plague new moms. You can log into message boards and blogs 24/7 ( a welcome diversion from drool, spit-up, and worse!) At least when you post a comment, someone is listening to what you have to say.

Still… do you — like me? — “check” every time the new message beep sound? Do you get a bit  cranky when you’re caught in a no-Internet black hole?

We’re still figuring this out ourselves, so we’d love to know if you’re also prone to plugging in and zoning out.

Do you ever secretly worry that your Internet activity is a habit you’d have a tough time breaking?

Or, do you see your screen time as a harmless diversion?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.