Put Down the Phone, Pick Up the Connection!
🐛 Hey there, grown-ups! Wally here!
Have you ever been talking to someone while they're looking at their phone?
You say something...
They say, "Uh-huh."
You say, "Did you hear me?"
They say, "Yep!"
And you're thinking..."Did you REALLY?" 👀📱
Well, little kids notice this stuff, too!
There's even a word for when technology gets in the way of our relationships: technoference.
That's a fancy word for something pretty simple—when phones, tablets, or other technology interrupt the time we're spending connecting with the people around us.
❤️ Little Moments Make a BIG Difference
Talking, listening, looking into each other's eyes, laughing, cuddling, and responding to your child are all important ways to build trust and connection. But technology can sometimes get in the way.
Research cited in the Screen Aware materials found that parent technology use can mean less talking and connecting with children and lower-quality parent-child interactions. Children may also act out more when they're trying to get a parent's attention.
And here's a number that made this little worm stop wiggling:
Half of surveyed parents said technology interrupted their interactions with their children at least three times a day.
Even kids notice when grown-ups are distracted by their phones.
🐛 Wally's Good News
You don't need to throw your phone into a pond. Please don't. Phones and ponds do not make good friends.
Instead, try creating a few screen-free connection moments throughout your day.
The Screen Aware campaign recommend making screen-free parent-child time part of every day, putting devices away when you're not actively using them, and modeling healthy technology habits for children.
Even a few minutes of your full attention can make a difference.
📱 Try a "Phone Down" Moment
Pick one everyday activity and make it screen-free:
📚 Read together
Snuggle up with a book or make silly voices for the characters.
🎵 Sing together
Add hand motions. Extra points for the world's silliest dance moves!
🚶 Take a walk
Turn it into a treasure hunt. Can you find three birds? A yellow flower? A funny-shaped rock?
🍽️ Eat together
Sit down and talk about your day. Let your little one tell you the very important story about what happened with that one toy.
🧹 Do chores together
Cooking, cleaning, raking leaves, or taking care of a pet can become opportunities to connect while helping children feel capable and involved.
👀 Get Down on Their Level
Here's one of my favorite Wally tips:
Get low!
Kneel down or sit so you're face-to-face with your child.
Put down the phone.
Look at them.
Listen.
When children can see your face and know you're responding to them, it helps them feel connected and safe. And don't forget the power of a good cuddle! Young children benefit from being held and supported by loving caregivers as they learn to manage their emotions and feel secure.
🌱 You Don't Have to Be Perfect
Let's be honest: Sometimes you need your phone. You might be answering an important message, checking an appointment, paying a bill, or trying to figure out why your child suddenly has peanut butter in their hair.
It happens! If you need to use your phone while your child is nearby, try telling them what you're doing and when you'll be finished.
For example: "I need to answer this message, and then we'll have our snack."
This helps children understand that you're using technology for a specific reason—not ignoring them.
🐛 Wally's Weekly Challenge
Here's your challenge this week:
Put down the phone. Pick up the connection.
Choose 10 minutes each day to give your child your full attention.
No scrolling.
No notifications.
No multitasking.
Just you + them.
Read.
Play.
Talk.
Cuddle.
Explore.
Be silly.
Ten minutes might not sound like much, but to a little person, having your full attention can feel BIG.
And that's something worth wiggling about.
Until next time,
🐛 Wally
Helping little minds grow—one connection at a time!
