We have heard about situations whereby young children (girls) were subjected to emotional trauma, young boys being involved in a critical criminal offense, child-trafficking, drug abuse by children and so on. The heartbreaking issues listed above must have been impacted through different media, whether intentional or accidental, direct or indirect. ‘Distracted Parenting’ is a big factor that gives rise to this issues in the society. Parenting is a psychological act implemented by the parent in child rearing. This responsible role played by the parent shapes the life of the children into what they (parent) want them (children) to become.
Moreover, parenting is of four main categories, namely;
Authoritarian Parenting (Disciplinarians): They make use of strict discipline with little or no negotiation, in this class communication is not mutual.
Permissive Parenting: They communicate openly with their children, they are very calm and nurturing.
Uninvolved Parenting(Distracted Parenting): In this category, communication, nurturing is minimal, and the children do whatever they want.
Authoritative Parenting: They are reasonable and nurturing, in this class disciplinary rules are clear with the reasons behind them explained accordingly.
Now looking into distracted parenting, the danger therein is numerous. Children from this category have a higher probability of being social victims. This style of parenting is becoming a widespread phenomenon. The fact that a parent is with the children doesn’t guarantee attention to them. Implementing a good parenting style is not about focusing on the children at all times, but to find a balance, show the children how important they are and being responsive to their needs, thereby creating a cordial relationship. But now that we live in a uniquely media-saturated age, most adults and teens have cell phones and other technological equipment with them all day, this has led to attention been placed majorly on other things aside from our close relatives,
Distracted parenting can be caused by the over-use of handheld technology, particularly cell phones and tablets by parents, in the presence of their children. This act by the parent has been found to have an impact on children’s social and emotional development, whereby the children tend to receive cues about personal issues bothering them from outsiders when their parent care less about them and care more about their devices (cellphones). With a very high order of probability, the children might get into wrong hands in the course of getting cues from outside, developing an awful personality within them over time without the knowledge of their distracted parent.