If there's one thing the creators of the beloved television show Bluey do well, it's making the lives of the Heeler family so relatable for children and parents alike.
In a new television special, Bluey's Big Play, families can watch a 45-minute stage production of the popular cartoon, where puppeteers bring the four-legged family to life.
And a little spoiler alert for those who don't know the storyline, we're about to unpack one of the show's key messages.
Is it OK to be on your phone when your kids are demanding your attention?
'All the kids see is Dad on the phone'
Bluey and her sister Bingo are inexhaustible young blue heeler dogs, who love to play and turn everyday family life into extraordinary adventures.
But in Bluey's Big Play, there's one thing getting in the way of their play time — Dad's phone.
Bandit Heeler tells the kids that he needs a break from playing, which involves chilling out on his bean bag to read his book.
But the kids soon discover that he is secretly scrolling on his phone — busted!
Digital literacy expert Dr Joanne Orlando from Western Sydney University is quick to point out the show's storyline would be familiar in many households.
"Bluey does really reflect what family life is like today and I think that the fact that it's an episode just like this really says a lot," she says.
"It's a very common scenario, so Dad could be on his phone just chilling out, maybe he's working overtime, maybe he is online shopping.
"But all the kids see is that Dad's on the phone."
Dr Orlando, a leading expert in the field of children and technology, says that children "know exactly what you're doing, so you're not getting away with anything".
"I think we forget sometimes that we really are technology role models for kids," she says.
When she interviews parents and children for her research "every child will tell me that their parents, or their parent is on their phone a lot".
Child development expert and content creator Dr Kristyn Sommer says she is often on her phone at home.
But she says whether parents' smartphone use is impacting on their children is still being explored.
"This is a topic of debate in the scientific literature," she says.
"One very large study from 2020 found there was almost no long-term impact on attachment, warmth or consistency in parenting."
That study, published by the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, found that the 3,659 parents surveyed used their phones for an average of 3.5 hours a day.
The research concluded that there were few concerns as "more phone use was associated with higher parenting quality".
Should parents have downtime on a phone?
In the stage play Bandit says his "batteries are flat" (figuratively speaking) and that he is trying to research the best ways to treat lawn grubs after his neighbour (Lucky's Dad) points out that he needs to get on top of them.
But Bluey and Bingo don't want a bar of it and proceed to hide his phone and interrupt his plans of peace and quiet by engaging him in silly games, all the while being egged on by their mum, Chilli. Sound familiar?
Dr Orlando says she finds that people often deal with fatigue and emotions by spending time on their screen.
"You might be angry, frustrated, sad, annoyed, tired, you know, all those kinds of things, and we just automatically reach for our screen as a way of managing our stress and tiredness and time out."
"We need to be really careful because we don't actually manage our stress in that way, we just put it on pause till we get off our screen."
Dr Sommer says parents don't get to avoid responsibilities any time their children ask to play.
"It is a child's utmost responsibility and purpose to play, because play is the work of the child," she says.
"It is an adult's responsibility to create an environment that is safe for children to pursue that purpose.
"It is OK to establish boundaries around when adults are available to play and when adults need to do the boring and basic tasks, or even — *gasp* — when they need to rest."
Communicate what you're doing
Our experts say if you need to be on your phone, but your children are demanding your attention, communicate what you're doing.
"If you are doing something that's urgent or that just needs to get done, just say, 'I'm just doing this, it will take me 10 or 15 minutes'", Dr Orlando says.
She recommends setting a timer "or something to get you out of that zombie scrolling zone that we all get in".
Dr Sommer recommends parents set boundaries and realistic expectations with their kids.
"All of these things will work better if consistency and predictability are at the centre of it," she says.
"For example: between 1 and 2pm is mum's time where she completes administration tasks on her computer.
"During this time you can a) play with Lego; b) watch a movie; or c) play in the backyard — you can choose what you do."
She says this helps them develop independence and self-regulation.
Engage kids in what you're doing
Like Bandit, if you've ever dealt with lawn grub you know it is a tricky problem to have in the garden.
Dr Orlando says if there are things we are doing around the home or we need to research something, we could view it as a learning opportunity for everyone.
"Any kind of group project that involves kids is great," she says.
"Parents are very aware that those kinds of things take a bit of extra time, so you have to know that, but there are a lot of benefits in that it's a bit of bonding time with the kids.
"It's a bit limiting when there are two or three people looking at the phone, so you might put it onto an iPad or put it on to a laptop, so everyone can actually do that end of the problem solving."
Be aware of devices creeping into everyday life
At the start of the episode, the Heeler family all join in on a game of musical statues, with songs playing from Dad's phone.
It's just the start of the family's phone chaos that eventually leads to Bluey and Bingo having a sisterly falling-out over the device.
"I think we're getting to that point where, everything is on our phone," Dr Orlando says.
"Even when we go to a cafe and you're ordering on a QR code, you have to get out your phone, you have to pass your phone over to the kids so they could work out what to order.
"And it just becomes this phone exercise, as opposed to just sitting at the table, having a bit of time together and having something nice to drink or eat."
Dr Sommer says children look to their parents as role models of behaviour.
"We probably shouldn't model doom scrolling and rotting on the couch for hours on end unless this is what we wish to see our children do.
"But we should absolutely be modelling health digital habits like setting boundaries around technology, creating phone free zones and prioritising face-to-face time."
Stream Bluey's Big Play on ABC iview now.
