PA
Researchers are warning that children are having more accidents because their mums and dads are too busy playing with their mobile phones when they should be supervising them.
Parents becoming distracted by texts and emails coming through on their smartphones and then ignoring their children as they deal with them are being cited as contributing to the rise in playground falls and accidents in the home.
The Mail reports that NHS data reveals the number of children being admitted to hospital having fallen from playground equipment has risen by a third in the last five years.
It claims that 'parenting experts and doctors specialising in emergency departments believe the rise is partly fuelled by the growing use of smartphones and BlackBerries'.
The paper also says that medics 'point out children are more inclined to take risks or misbehave when they know their parents' attention is diverted'.
Sheila Merrill, public health adviser at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents told the Mail that 'supervision is central to ensuring that young children are not exposed to significant risk in the home, on the road or while out playing'.
"Distractions come in many forms, of course, but with the apparent rise in smartphone use, it's important to remind parents and carers that texting, calling and surfing the net at inappropriate times can put their child at unnecessary risk of being hurt in an accident," she said.
Are your distracted by your smartphone?
Do you sometimes zone out on it when your kids are playing?