This applies most particularly to very young children.
Babies and children are emotionally wired to expect their parents and adult carers to give them their full, and undivided attention as and when they try to engage with them or to communicate their needs. They trust and anticipate that their needs will be met right away, and they usually find it very hard to deal with it, if they don’t get a caring response immediately. Babies and young children in particular, struggle to cope with a delayed or deferred response from their parents. The lack of response leaves them confused and vulnerable, and may result in considerable emotional insecurity and uncertainly.
Talk to your baby or to your young children and do your best to explain, that you are home, but that you have work to do. Explain that you will make time to read a story, or to spend time doing something special, and then ensure that you take short but frequent breaks to spend un-interrupted time with your child.
We all have become so good at replying without making eye contact when we are busy working on our devices. This is most confusing for children, who need the emotional affirmation of eye contact to feel that they have been heard. Take time to connect with your child using physical contact, by firmly squeezing the child’s arm or leg, and explain again that you are working, and that you will soon do something together. Wherever possible, avoid showing frustration at being interrupted by your young child. In time, as you make the time to do the special things together, your child will begin to understand how it works, and that he is not being neglected, in spite of your being right there!
