My Mistakes About Giving My Kids Phones

As a mom, figuring out when to give my kids a phone has been one of the hardest topics to tackle.While there have been conveniences once they got a phone, like being able to know where they are at all times and reach them if I need to, the cons have far outweighed the pros in my family. A phone is the default way lots of kids stay in touch, organize activities, and learn about the world. But it can also suck them into the online world, and make it harder for them to engage in reality.So this week, I sat down with my youngest kid, Cory, and talked about this hot topic: What age to give a kid a phoneWhat type of phoneSocial Media accessHow a parent should handle all the common arguments kids often giveAt 18, Cory is old enough to see both the pros and cons and can vividly remember how his first smartphone changed his life. I had so much fun getting his perspective on this question and even putting him in the hot seat - weighing in on how he’d handle it with a badgering teen, claiming that EVERYONE has a phone and blah blah blah.When it comes to technology, it’s like the wild wild west for parents. I think I’d do things differently if I had to do it all over again…especially based on my own kid’s advice!Cory and I discuss what kinds of changes happen in the life - and mind - of a kid when they get their first smartphone, how to decide when they’re ready to handle those changes, and how to (and how not to) talk to your kids about the limits around smartphones.As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-295About Randi RubensteinRandi Rubenstein helps parents with a strong-willed kiddo become a happier family and enjoy the simple things again like bike rides and beach vacays.She’s the founder of Mastermind Parenting, host of the Mastermind Parenting podcast, and author of The Parent Gap. Randi works with parents across the U.S.At Mastermind Parenting, we believe every human deserves to have a family that gets along.Randi’s Web and Social LinksWebsite: https://mastermindparenting.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparentingInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/ Resources Discussed/LinksOur 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/