@abanaturally: 1. We all tell our kids, “Go play,” “Put your tablet down,” “Find something else to do.” But the truth is, kids learn far more from what we do than what we say. If every spare moment we have, while waiting in line, cooking dinner, sitting on the couch, we reach for our phones, we’re teaching them that this is what downtime looks like. 
That the default when you’re bored, tired, or alone… is to scroll. Behavior is learned through imitation. So if we model scrolling, they’ll model scrolling. 
If we model presence, curiosity, and finding real-life reinforcers… that’s what they’ll learn too. 2. To our kids, there is nothing more valuable than parental attention. And the behaviors we pay attention to are the ones that increase. But when we’re on our phone, we’re not really paying attention, at least not to them. So even when they’re playing nicely, sharing, or being patient, those positive behaviors often go unnoticed. The outcome? When the good stuff doesn’t get our attention, kids stop doing it as often because it no longer “works.” 3. Attention-Seeking Behaviors (and How We Accidentally Create Them): When kids don’t get noticed for the good stuff, they’ll find something that does get a reaction. And they’re smart about it. They learn fast that yelling, whining, or interrupting gets a response every time. And it’s not that they’re trying to be difficult. They’re trying to reconnect with us in the only way that seems to work. So those behaviors increase… not because they want to misbehave, but because they’ve learned it’s the surest way to get our attention. The good news? We can flip that pattern anytime. A few intentional moments of noticing the right things can completely change the tone of our day. P.S. If we haven’t met yet—hi! I’m Jenna. I’m a behavior analyst, teacher, and mom. I started this account to help parents and educators with practical, evidence-based strategies that actually work, so you can enjoy more peaceful days without constant power struggles. So if you’re looking for real-life, easy-to-follow tips (without the fluff), you’re in the right place! #behavior #parentsoftiktok

Jenna, BCBA, NYSLBA, M.S.Ed

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Sunday 01 November 2026 22:16:27 GMT