Your Toddler vs. Your Phone: The Tiny Moments You Miss

Your toddler used to try harder to get your attention. Here's what to do to when you realize they've stopped, and the what to say to bring them back.

This week’s scenario

Your toddler used to bring you a book. The same one, three times in a row sometimes, holding it up to your face until you read it. They used to climb into your lap when you were on the sofa, even if you were busy, especially if you were busy, because your lap was the safest place in the world.

And somewhere along the way, you noticed they’d stopped. Or rather, you noticed they were doing it less. They were playing alone for longer stretches. They weren’t bringing the book to you three times anymore, just once, and if you didn’t look up they wandered off. You thought they were maturing, becoming more independent. What really happened? They’d learned, without anyone teaching them, that your eyes are usually on something else, and that something else was more important.

This isn’t a story about a single bad moment. It’s a story about a thousand small ones.

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