How about putting down your smart phone. Everyday I see parents with children in parks, restaurants, etc. totally ignoring their children while focused on their phone. When you're out with your kids, put your phone away.

Judy - Your comment reminded me of Look Up (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY), another reminder to be present. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment.

I agree with the above poster and smart phones. At the park or similar ours are used just for urgent phone use or to take pictures like a camera. Posting the pictures or sending them to grandparents are done at home. While at the park, dig in the sand, chase the birds, with the kids and be part of the fun.

My other comment is that in our family a chapter book - regardless of how long the chapters or the book, is a chapter a night before bed. The kids love to hear their chapter and then perhaps chat and guess what may happen next as they get ready for bed. They then look forward to finding out if they are right and what happens next the following night. We have several series of books about the same characters so that we can read their different adventures at night time. Anticipation and getting to know the various personalities over time is a plus.

Sadly, many newer books for young children are no longer written in chapter form or with several books in the series, designed for reading over a period of days.

We also enjoy reading books by the original authors rather than the Disney version. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne, Paddington Bear and the Mary Poppins books are good examples.

Mother of 4 - Thanks for sharing your thoughts about cellphone use at the park. Personally, when I share photos with my husband, my parents, etc, I tend to do it in the moment. Our kids sometimes help me figure out which photo to send and what to type. It's fun to share the moment with loved ones who aren't close by. And, who knows, maybe they'll even text or email back moments later.

And thanks for sharing how your family enjoys chapter books. Sounds like a much enjoyed part of your bedtime routine.

why don't they call them ''sell phones'' .its all about money.

Phonies - Thanks for the play on words

I also believe an aunt or uncle can do wonders in holding our children when times are extremely tough and uncertain. Even when my sister was staying with me during a sorrow-filled week of searching for her only child found the reserve in her heart and share love to read to my two sons at night - through all of our worry and anxiety of not finding her only child wayward and alone - I shared my children with her a small miracle of mine for her within much larger, tragic ending for all of us.

I also believe an aunt or uncle can do wonders in holding our children when times are extremely tough and uncertain. Even when my sister was staying with me during a sorrow-filled week of searching for her only child, found the reserve in her heart to share the love and read to my two sons at bedtime - through all of our worry and anxiety when not finding her only child who was wayward and alone - I shared my children with her. The familial miracle of holding children - all within a much larger, tragic ending for her son and now, a lifelong heartbreak in all of us.