There’s proof that distracted driving is dangerous, but what about distracted parenting? In the era of smart phones, social media networks and working from home, distracted parenting is affecting many parents and children. DePaul University faculty are available to provide expert commentary about the growing phenomenon of distracted parenting and what parents can do to combat it.

Among those available to comment are:

Karen S. Budd, psychology professor and director of clinical training. Budd has worked with distracted parents in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, a program for children between the ages of two and seven years old with disruptive behavior problems.  A major part of the therapy program is teaching parents how to attend and respond to their children in play, which helps build a more secure, positive relationship and provides a base for effective discipline. “Even for busy parents, short daily doses of responsive, positive child-directed interaction serve as ‘medicine’ for children to build self-esteem and strengthen nurturing parent-child relationships,” Budd said. She can be reached at kbudd@depaul.edu.

Dana McDermott, associate professor, School for New Learning. An expert on parenting education, McDermott can discuss the importance of “mindful parenting” or being in the moment and present with children as opposed to being just physically but not mentally present. She can address how the “competing urgencies” in parents’ lives impact the parent-child relationship. Author of the book “Developing Caring Relationships among Parents, Children, Schools and Communities” (2008, Sage Publications). McDermott can be reached at (312) 362-5111 or dmcderm2@depaul.edu.