This seems to be a hot button topic this week. Distracted parenting.

First I saw this article on babble.com earlier this week Does my Blackberry make me a bad parent?

Then, I ran across this headline the other night while glancing at the latest news on StarTribune.com on my mobile. Yes, I realized both the irony and the reality as I read the headline Plugged in parents alienating their kids? from my tiny glowing screen while my kids were playing on the floor with their Fisher Price Little People. This isn't new, we've discussed this topic on Cribsheet before. Around this time last year Samara Postuma from Simplicity in the Suburbs did a guest post on this very concern. You, your cellphone, and your kid. It is interesting to go back and read the discussion. It was more about cell phones and parents being distracted by talking on their mobile. Doesn't it seem like in just one year that texting, tweeting and Facebook updating/commenting have been even more pervasive than actually conversing out loud? Our family successfully experimented with "No glowing screens week" a month or so back. It really was great. As a result, our time in front of TV and computer/cell phone has not gone away completely but it has dramatically decreased. (BUT our use of phones in the car has gone away completely. That's another post in itself. Absolutely no distracted driving!) Moderation is key. Many parents set guidelines or parameters around their own computer/smart phone usage, nap time, after bedtime, etc. In the NYT piece one mother announced a Blackberry blackout from 4-8pm much to her children's glee. Have you initiated a no phone zone in your house? How do you balance time with your kids and checking up with your e-mails/social media etc? ____________________________________

And by the way - tomorrow is National Get Outdoors Day. Leave the phone @ home whydontcha? There are many free events going on! See a laundry list of free opportunites at Three Rivers Park District and at the Minnesota Zoo - helloooo free kids admission! Click here. Enjoy!