Cell Phone Rules Are A Must - But What If You Make Them *With* Your Kids?

""Giving your kid a cellphone is a big deal. It's bigger than it was in the 2000s when many of us received our first Nokia and used it mostly to play Snake and (barely) text our friends (those texts were 10 cents each!). It's bigger than it was even 10 or 15 years ago, thanks to social media. And while it can feel like a protection tool because it allows you to contact your child and locate them whenever you need to, it can also feel like a tool that you have to protect your child from.""

""I think any time that we sit down with our kids and collaborate on a plan of action, the more successful it is," Morala tells Scary Mommy. "When we invite them to have a seat at the table and participate in what the rules are, they are more likely to be invested in listening to them. Let them collaborate on what the consequences are, too, so that everyone is on the same page and fully aware. They know what the expectations are, and they can be a part of understanding the why behind them. It's a great opportunity to build critical thinking skills for lifetime success.""

Giving a child a cellphone is a significant milestone with greater implications today due to social media and constant connectivity. A phone can provide safety by allowing parents to contact and locate their child, but it also introduces risks that require protective boundaries. Families benefit from explicit rules that go beyond simple bans, covering social media use and sharing contact information. Holding a family conversation and inviting children to collaborate on rules and consequences increases buy-in and clarity. Collaborative rule-making helps children understand expectations and develops critical thinking around digital behavior and responsibility.

Read at Scary Mommy