Perhaps more than ever, the inability to stop and focus is a genuine struggle. We live with so many things on the go, we can’t keep up. Handheld electronic devices compound the problem.

Surveys show that people tap, swipe and click an average of 2,617 times per day.⁠¹ Compare that with how often they smile. On average, adults smile 20 times per day.⁠² We are swiping 13,000 percent more than we are smiling. That’s one smile per 130 swipes.

How can something so small dominate such a large portion of our lives? It is a real addiction that affects all of us and, sadly, even our toddlers. Our minds are rarely at rest.

A wonderful discipline to combat this is to practice being fully present in the moment, especially with your children. If you have set aside time to be with them, then train yourself to be fully there. Turn off your phone or put it in another room. Focus on what they’re saying. Practice active listening. Provide space for them to connect with you. It is not enough for us to be physically present. We need to be emotionally and mentally present as well.

*This post is an excerpt from Heart-Shaped Parenting, by Drew and Megan Land. Available August 24, 2019 from www.heartshapedparenting.org or on Amazon.

1. Michael Winnick (June 16, 2016). “Putting a Finger on Our Phone Obsession.” dscout.

2. Leo Widrich (Apr 1, 2016). “The Science of Smiling: A Guide to The World’s Most Powerful Gesture.” Buffer.

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