Although my using my iPhone to check emails, send a text or upload a photo to Facebook has not caused me to be so distracted as to prevent one of my children from getting injured, I must confess I hate myself each and every time I do any of those tasks when I'm supposed to be spending time with my kids. But, sometimes, I can't help it. As I've mentioned in the past, I'm not the best mom when it comes to playing with my children. And so, looking at my mobile device for a few moments breaks up the monotony that playing with a very small child can mean.
Well, according to a recent article on the Wall Street Journal, I better be more cautious because there seems to be a link between parents' usage of mobile devices and an increase in chilhood injuries.
Actually, I'm not surprised because I can totally see how something like that could happen. As I already said, it hasn't happened to me, but maybe that's because I'm lucky. The thing is that using a mobile device can be more distracting than we think.
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By now, we all know–or should know–how distracting it can be to text and drive, for example, or even to text and walk. I mean, how many times have you seen someone bump into somebody else or walk into a wall because they were looking down at their smartphone sending a text or laughing at someone's Facebook status? (If you haven't, just got to the nearest mall and get your fill.)
But why is that these devices can be so distracting? "What mobile technologies do is essentially remove you from the situation. The ability to anticipate problems is much more reduced," according to Stanford University Sociologist Clifford Nass.
I'll be sure to remember that the next time I'm supposed to be spending some quality time with my kids.
Image via GoodNCrazy/flckr
