Feeling frustrated now with children’s addiction to phones & computers (not their fault)
Dd is only 7, obviously has no phone etc, but two of her friends on the road have their parents old mobiles. They have games on and YouTube, no other social media
We have a large garden with trampoline, footballs, slides, lots of toys, Lego and games inside, drawing things, paints and so on.
Each time these two friends come (usually separately) they have started bringing their phones (one friend is still 6, the other is 8)
Before this, they’d play on the trampoline, football, chat in the garden, play imaginary games with toys, lego, chase…when they bring the phones, they sit the whole time on the trampoline or bench outside just glued to it and i’m sick of it.
We let Dd go on the home computer to play Minecraft building games sometimes when on her own and tv anytime when friends not here is fine. She has a very outdoors life, but I find it so sad to watch the natural playing being replaced, especially so young.
The last couple of times they’ve come I’ve said i’m sorry but they’ll have to put the phones in the drawer until home time, Dd practically begs for it, I really feel they’re addictive.
I’m not keen on Dd going to one of their houses as they’re just left to watch YouTube (adult, not even kids) Dd has now started saying it’s boring at our house and Ive noticed this friend often struggles to know how to play
Would me doing this offend you as a parent?
I just wish no one had phones/this much technology for kids. Tired of feeling like the uptight, bad guy