An annoying thing about being a parent is that you have to consistently model good behaviour. You can’t just shove crisps in your mouth and stare at your phone when you need a break.
I’ve always spent an unhealthy amount of time staring at my phone, but I didn’t worry about my habit until I had a toddler. The thing with toddlers is that they have more sophisticated surveillance techniques than Facebook. Even when you think they’re completely absorbed in emptying the contents of your cupboards on to the living room floor, they know when you’re looking at your phone and not at them. And, according to various alarming studies, this guarantees a lifetime of therapy bills. One 2023 study, for example, found parental phone use is associated with “still face”. This means that you look like a depressed robot while scrolling – and it can affect a child’s emotional development.
