The child is reaching for the phone.
The father tells them they can’t have it.
‘Daddy’s using it now’
The child doesn’t understand and adds groans to their reaching.
The father grabs a nearby toy, shakes it in front of the child’s face and makes excited noises.
It doesn’t work.
The child still wants the phone.
Of course it didn’t work.
The child set their sights on the phone. The only thing to satisfy this desire is to receive the phone.
Just because you bring another desirable object (a more convenient desirable object for you) into view doesn’t mean they no longer want the phone.
PS. This doesn’t just happen to children.
Thomas Duggan 