They're Watching the Table
Researchers observing caregivers and kids in fast food restaurants for the American Academy of Pediatrics found that when adults were absorbed in their phones, kids acted out more to get attention. The phone-free meal isn't really about the child's willpower — it's about what they're watching us do first.
Try this
Pocket the Phone First
Try setting your phone in another room before the food even hits the table — not as a rule for them, but as something they catch you doing. It's a small move, but it's the one they notice most.
Give Them a Job
Some families let the kid order for themselves or pick the dinner topic instead of reaching for a tablet. The tricky part isn't the first ten minutes of a meal — it's the lull after the food arrives and before the check comes.
What gets you through that lull after the food arrives?
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