Sharon Jayson explores a very interesting topic in today's USA TODAY: She says that in this age of BlackBerrys and working from home after hours and on weekends, hours spent at home don't necessarily translate into quality time with the kids.

Ellen S. also touched on this topic this week in her story, Moms: Back Away from the BlackBerry!

Are BlackBerrys and laptops and cell phones stealing time from our children? Yes, say researchers.

"This is shared attention," Sherry Turkle, director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, tells USA TODAY. "And for children, shared attention can feel like no attention at all."

How can you spend more quality time with your kids?

• Set limits. For instance, vow to not check the BlackBerry or your e-mail at set times -- say, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM daily.

• Make sure quality time is REALLY quality time. If you get limited time with your kids, try to make a conscious effort to maximize your time with them. Instead of doing the dishes while they are watching TV, for instance, do active things with them -- like reading or playing games.

• Remind yourself: The world won't end if you don't check your BlackBerry or iPhone for five minutes! Tune out -- and start tuning IN to your children.

Do you think that you spend less quality time with your kids because of e-mail, cell phones, PDAs and working at home? Tell us about it.