As someone whose entire platform is digital📱, I understand the need to balance screen time and real-life interactions—especially around children. Growing research shows that parental phone use in front of children can negatively impact their development and well-being, reducing the quality of parent-child interactions, and leading to behavioral issues and emotional disconnection. Being mindful of our screen use is essential for fostering meaningful connections and supporting our child’s development. It’s also important for our own mental health, as research has shown that increased smartphone use can exacerbate parental stress and anxiety. Here are some strategies that can help ensure a healthy balance for your family: ✅ Set clear boundaries- designate phone-free times, like at meals or bedtime, to keep screens away and focus on family interaction ✅ Model healthy behavior- limit your own screen time to demonstrate balanced screen habits that you want your child to follow as they get older ✅ Ensure consistent quality time- be sure there is enough dedicated time to connect without the presence of digital devices ✅ Use technology mindfully- reserve screens for necessary tasks like work or important communication, and set personal time limits for screen use to prevent overuse and encourage a balanced lifestyle. ✅ Communicate Openly- when needing to be on your phone in front of your child explain why and when you’ll be done. ✅ If your child is happily independently playing, you can enjoy phone use if you would like. By setting clear boundaries, we can model healthy habits and create deeper bonds with our kids. Your child seeing you use your phone occasionally isn’t going to make them feel neglected, but look at the big picture of your interactions with them when deciding if you’re using devices too much. Want more tips on making