and teach them to your kids so they can
learn to do the same:
Refuse to be a slave to technology’s
beeps, dings, and buzzes. When you
hear an alert on your phone, say no.
Better yet, silence any digital noise-
makers when you are trying to con-
centrate, during dinner and other fam-
ily times, and so forth.
Practice single-minded focus. Do one
thing at a time. Then move on to the
next thing. Resist the urge to get dis-
tracted or split your focus by multi-
tasking.
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Take regular technology breaks. Even
better, get outside and take a stroll. A
short walk each day helps you clear
your head and process what’s happen-
ing in your life.
Learn present listening. Fully engage
during conversations by becoming
aware of your awareness. Don’t let
your mind wander. Be interested, con-
cerned, and empathetic.
“Narrate why you’re doing what
you’re doing, and why you’re asking them
to do so,” says McCormack. “Unless you
tell them, they may not realize there’s a bet-
ter way to live. This high-tech connected
life is all they’ve ever known.”
Immerse kids in scenarios that teach
them to connect. A constant onslaught of
noise hampers kids’ social skills develop-
ment. That’s a problem because the ability
to engage with others in a meaningful way
matters more than ever. Being able to influ-
ence, persuade, collaborate, and show em-
pathy are no longer considered “soft skills”
— they’re workplace survival skills.
Parents can help by putting kids in situ-
ations where they can practice connecting
with others. Insist that they hold meaningful
conversations at the dinner table. Make sure
they converse with visitors rather than re-
treating to their room. And make the world
their classroom: Have younger kids place
their own order at restaurants and (politely)
send their food back when it’s wrong. Enlist
older kids to negotiate for a different room
if there’s a problem during a family vaca-
tion.
Look for ways to build empathy.
Kids’ brains are malleable. Whatever they
spend their time doing influences their de-
velopment. That’s one more reason why
it’s important to limit their exposure to
digital distraction and help them tune into
the world and people around them. It’s also
why parents should focus on instilling hab-
continued on page 27
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