It's time for parents to learn manners around phone use

While school administrators and parents focus on phone bans in schools as kids head back to school, we also need to pay attention to the other places where phone use (and overuse) occurs. Teens often feel frustrated when their parents criticize their phone use but don’t limit their own. Higher levels of perceived parent digital technology use that interferes with parent-child interactions were associated with higher levels of anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity in a recent study. Families need to make changes in their technology habits to restore positive communication and trust. Setting family tech guidelines, practicing active listening skills, creating effective communication systems, and prioritizing tech-free family time can help curb tech overuse.