Education News – Grace Smith
“According to materials from the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents who take their children to playgrounds and then pull out their cell phones to make a call or check Facebook run the risk of being distracted from monitoring their children. Annually more than 200,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms as a result of playground-related injuries, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission…two researchers observed caregivers and children at seven New York playgrounds in order to pinpoint the types of distractions…Caregivers were distracted during 74% of the episodes, but most distractions were minimal and for the majority of the time the adult’s attention was focused on the child. Cell phones were not the only cause for distraction. Other distractions included talking with other adults (33% of all distractions); electronic devices (30%); eating, drinking, looking in purse, reading, other activities (37%). “Caregivers in general are doing a fine job supervising their children on the playground. However, increased awareness of limiting electronic distractions and other activities that may interfere with supervision should be considered,” said study author Ruth Milanaik, DO…”(more)