What age do you stop no phones overnight?

[pinkfondu]

Phones/iPads have always been left downstairs at bedtime. But what age have you felt you could relax this rule?

Not before end of year 11 once GCSEs are done.

I'm interested in this too. My daughter is just going into year 11 and complains we make her leave it downstairs, but I know she'd be on it until the small hours.

My plan is when GCSE are finished, also that is when they get TV and games consoles in their bedrooms.

End of year 11, in theory.

Although, tbh, I never had a general rule about phones. They know what the expectations are with regards to behaviour, schoolwork, and therefore sleep.

Never had this rule but mine didn't have smartphones until 14

Not relaxed it yet and oldest is 16. I see what time his friends are still whatsapping each other and this explains why none of them are out of bed till midday. Good sleep hygiene is important.

My kids grew up before this was an issue but I cant really see any good reason why they need their phones in their bedroom after bedtime given that we all know they will be messing with them throughout the night. After GCSEs seems reasonable if you have to concede a little.

Given my devices stay downstairs at bedtime, I don't see why it ever needs to change.

After all GCSE exams were finished.

Never. Nobody needs to be that connected to social media.

if your kid wants to stay up late then they will find a way. My mum didnt know how many devices i had (2phones, 2 game consoles, walkman and torches). She would take away something but i still had something else. My phone was my alarm so i needed it. At some point they need to learn that they need sleep and can't be awake all night. Maybe try during the holidays as a trial period and say that it will continue if they don't abuse it.

Thank you all. GCSE are finished. Ex has never enforced but I have. Will have a chat and relax and work on individual responsibility

With our eldest it was until he finished school at 18 and plan to do the same with youngest

I never had this rule. They knew that they would need to be up for school on time, the value of a good nights sleep etc. If they’d stayed up on devices till 3am on a school night they’d have faced the consequences of only having four hours sleep, not me.

I imagine when they turn 18.

I leave my own phone downstairs overnight so reasonable for that to be a house rule. Dd18 has hers in her room for the last year or so but still has a bedtime blocker so it won't work after midnight. I asked her if she wanted this taken off and she admitted she quite likes having it so it has stayed on.

I would say either 16 once GCSE's are done, or 18.

If 16, make it quite clear that getting up for College and getting there on time, is their responsibility not yours.

Agree, but with the backup that phones will be removed again if they start being late.

This. They need to learn the hard way if they don't get enough sleep. That's their look out.

I say lights out 10pm and advise no phones after 10pm but also they do use phones as alarms do it's daft to confiscate something that ultimately can be used to help them wake up on time. Eldest is 17yo.

They can learn that at 18 just as well as when they’re 13. When they’re younger, the adult helps to guide them.

We did post-GCSE for ours too.

Mine too, based on this logic … No problems. I also worked on the basis that taking it away would make them crave it more. But kids have different personalities so no one right answer.

I'm surprised at some of the answers on here - you give your practically adult children that little autonomy that a 17 year old can't have their phone in their room at night? I really can't believe this is the norm in most families.

I agree. Phones are not just used for chatting with friends or being on SM, but to do basic stuff like use torch light to read a book, or alarm to wake up next morning or music to chill out on your phone at the end of the day.

I would be a number one hypocrite if I didn't let them use phones at night as o use it to unwind listening to my audiobook on my phone or listening to the Sleeping Forecast.

I leave my phone downstairs overnight, and have that old fashioned thing called an alarm clock.

Different DC have different amounts of phone addiction and self control. Some rules are unnecessary for some DC but essential for others.