The effect of prolonged lack of attention

I get so sad when I see when a baby is trying to get attention from its parents without any success. For example, when it tries to touch them, or to reach for them, hoping to at least get any kind of reaction, often with help of crying or making noise. 

Yet, their parents are sitting facing another direction, and only focusing on their phones and the world online.

It seems like what is happening online so much more important to the parents than what is happening with their child. For some it also seems as if the baby may only be an annoying background noise to them.

It's so much more than that. It's not only attention and love that the baby needs, but the interaction and feedback of the parents. This is important so that the babies can develop their social skills and get an understanding for the world that surrounds them.

The ,,Still Face Experiment'' from Dr. Edward Tronick, in which a mother denies her baby attention for a short period of time, describes how prolonged lack of attention can move an infant from good socialization, to periods of  bad but repairable socialization. In ''ugly'' situations the child does not receive any chance to return to the good, and may become stuck! I think the most parents are not aware of their behaviour, and its ugly outcome, because of their addiction to their phones and social media. So, please put your phone away, and engage with your children.