You know that feeling when you’re sitting in your living room responding to a text, and your little one yells, “Mom, look at me!” for the 50th time that day? You look up for a split second to watch their haphazard somersault with a half-hearted, “That’s great, bud!” 

If you frequently find yourself holding up the “just a minute” finger to finish what you’re doing on your phone before responding to your kid’s bid for attention, you’re not alone. It turns out, there's actually a name for what's happening as technology use increases for parents: technoference.

What Exactly Is Technoference?
Technoference is when technology interrupts or interferes with face-to-face interactions between parents and children. It’s those moments when our devices pull our attention away from our kids, even when we're physically present with them.

These seemingly small interruptions happen to all of us, but they're contributing to something researchers are taking seriously.

What Does the Research Say?
A review published in JAMA Pediatrics analyzed 21 studies involving nearly 15,000 participants from 10 countries, focusing on children under 5 years old. The researchers found that when parents frequently used technology around their young children, it was associated with poorer cognitive development, less social behavior, lower attachment, and higher levels of both anxiety and behavioral problems.

Now, before you start feeling guilty about every notification you've ever checked in front of your child, take a deep breath! Awareness and making small, manageable changes can go a long way. 

Ditch the Mom Guilt
Here's the thing: we live in 2025, not 1995. Technology isn't going anywhere, and neither are the very real demands of modern parenting. You might genuinely need to respond to urgent work emails, coordinate family schedules, or even just decompress for a few minutes.

It’s true that when we're using screens around our kids, we might find ourselves giving half-hearted responses or missing those precious moments when they're trying to connect with us. But technology isn't inherently bad. What matters is recognizing when our devices are creating barriers between us and our children. 

5 Small Changes for Big Impact
Instead of panicking or falling face-first into mom guilt, try implementing some baby-step improvements that can make a real difference. 

1. Create Phone-Free Moments 
Designate certain times as device-free. Maybe during meals, the first 30 minutes after you get home, or bedtime routines. Start small. Even 15 minutes of focused attention can be meaningful.

2. Use "Do Not Disturb" Strategically 
Set your phone to Do Not Disturb during specific family times. This quiets those tempting notifications that pull our attention away from our children.

3. Model Healthy Tech Use 
When you do need to use your phone, narrate what you're doing: "I'm checking the weather so we know what to wear to the park today." This helps your child understand that technology has a purpose beyond entertainment.

4. Make Transitions Visible 
Put your phone down deliberately and announce, "I'm putting my phone away now so we can play together." This helps your child understand they have your full attention.

5. Use Technology Together 
Not all screen time has to be separate. Video calling grandparents, looking up answers to your child's questions, or taking photos of their artwork together can be positive shared experiences.

Remember: You're Not Failing
If you're reading this and feeling overwhelmed by all the ways technology might be affecting your family, please give yourself some grace. The fact that you're concerned about this topic shows you're a thoughtful parent who wants the best for your child.

Every modern parent has answered a call during playtime, responded to a text during dinner, or checked their phone while their child was talking. What matters is recognizing these moments and making small, consistent efforts to be more present. Your children won't remember every single moment you glanced at your phone. But they will remember the feeling of having your full attention, the security of knowing they're important to you, and the comfort of being truly seen and heard.