Families spend half of dinnertime distracted by technology and toys

CHICAGO - When young US families gather for dinner, half the time is spent preoccupied with electronic devices, toys and tasks that take them physically or mentally away from the table, a study posted on the website of the University of Illinois on Monday shows.

The study examined 109 families' dinnertime routines and the effects that fathers' presence and various types of distractions had on mothers' interactions with their preschool children.

The distractions included technology-related ones, such as adjusting appliance settings or using TVs and other electronic devices; playing with pets, toys or other objects; food-related distractions; and leaving the table for any reason, such as to go to the bathroom or to work.