Cell Phone Check-In: Readiness, Rules, and Routines

Many parents give their child a phone for practical reasons—safety, schedules, school—but then realize the harder part comes next: figuring out the rules, routines, and check-ins that keep kids healthy and safe. On the latest episode of Raising Me, host Adrienne Stein speaks with Rebecca Hoffmann, Senior Director of Clinical Innovation and Training at MaineHealth, and a longtime mental health and family therapist. Hoffmann shares how to know if a child is ready for a phone—and what parents can do when the phone is already in the child’s hands and boundaries need a reset. Hoffmann shares practical guidance on setting guardrails before a phone is introduced, as well as realistic steps families can take afterward, like adjusting routines, setting expectations around nighttime use, and keeping communication open. The conversation also touches on watching for changes in mood, sleep, and mental health, and how parents can respond without turning every day into a power struggle. The episode offers parents a clear message: you don’t need a perfect plan to start. You can begin with one boundary, one routine, and one check-in—and build from there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices