I learned long ago that it?s almost impossible to keep a New Year?s resolution. Yet, in late December I made one. And not just to myself, but to my family. The promise" To put my smartphone away as soon as I get home from work, and only pick it up again the next morning.

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Will Ferrell is all of us in this PSA about device-addicted parents The decision is a long time coming. Ever since I gave up my BlackBerry for an iPhone a few years ago, I?ve found it nearly impossible to put it down. The endless Twitter conversations, the constant stream of Instagram posts, the incessant checking of sports scores?my brain is always telling me to pick up my cell and give each app another scroll through. If it?s anywhere near me, it soon ends up in my hands. I know I?m not the only one who struggles with this. A 2016 survey from research firm Dscout found that people touch their phones 2,617 times a day. Another report revealed that we check our phones, on average, once every 12 minutes. As parents, it’s easy to see these studies in action: Go to the park, an indoor play place and even the tobogganing hill and without fail, you’ll see moms and dads pulling out their phones every few minutes.
Just because everyone?s doing it, though, doesn?t mean ...