Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/329829
58 Parents today have more to worry about than TV time. There's Facebook time. iPad time. Cell-phone time. Video-game time. But if parents don't offer guidance on the unprecedented amount of technology this generation has at their fingertips, it could be trouble time. FACE TiME Maintaining Healthy Family Communication in a digital world by rhea Maze While technology can enhance knowledge, technical skills and social connectedness, overuse can lead to a host of problems, from gaming addiction and sleep deprivation to Facebook depression and cyber-bullying. And if parents don't pay more attention, experts worry, they could be raising a generation of social misfits. "I often notice families of four sitting together at a restaurant, yet no verbal communication is happening," says Dr. Donald Traver, pediatrician at Pediatrics 5280. "Instead, everyone is on their cell phone communicating via text, email and social sites." That's not the way for parents to role model in the technology age. In fact, Traver and other experts fear that most parents don't know the amount of time their children are in front of the screen, which can interfere with important developmental activities, such as playing outside, reading, and interacting with friends.