children and phones

[Greenl123]

my child is addicted to his phone and i dont know what to do. Do you think my child should keep his phone or not?

How old?
How addicted?
What do you think? You're the parent!

I went no tech with my kids a few months ago, and it has proved to be the best thing we could have done.

The children are so much happier, much more positive, interested and interesting to be with. They have developed other interests, their school work is better. Their mental health so much better.

They still have access to a computer for coding or music programs, and have proved they can use this responsibility.

They can still watch YouTube, but on the main tv, which we watch together, and I can better monitor what they are watching.

There was unhappiness for a few days when I started this, but that didn't last.

I can heartily recommend culling kids access to phones/personal tablets etc.

I think you should let him keep his phone but you should take control. if he is out at a restaurant, and he is using his phone, you should take it off him. Or, if the restaurant provides some sort of fun (like a game pack) then you should take it. Play the game with him and the rest of your family and possibly he might see that having fun isn't just about playing games on phones.

How old is the child?

My 6.5yo doesn't have any tech and no access to our phones. We don't have a tablet in the house. He'll have a go on a friend's tablet or look at a friend's parent's phone if they're watching youtube or something.

We aren't glued to our phones when we are with him either. DH may have to look at emails when we are put (self-employed), but that's it.

The kids we know with unlimited access to phones or with zero parental control have a tendency to lean towards arseholery.

How old is your child?

Under secondary school age limit usage (or actually just get them a brick phone for emergencies). After secondary school age as a minimum have a "phone must be off and left downstairs after x time" type rule. and some rules like when it is appropriate to use phones (e.g. not at meals.

No. Take it off him. No child needs a smart phone.