Since 2013, rates of teenage depression and suicide have skyrocketed. It is no coincidence that this is the same year when the proportion of Americans owning a cellphone surpassed 50 percent – and the generation now known as the iGen were born. Here are some tips to help curb your kid’s cellphone use:
- Phone Off at 10 – No Exceptions: And better yet, no phone before bed. Ensure your teen charges their phone in a room other than their bedroom.
- Phone-free Zones: Movie night, trips to Starbucks, shopping, baking, family dinners and studying can and should be done without a phone in hand.
- Get the Log-ins: Parents often struggle with the moral issue of spying on their kids, which is why I suggest not doing it. Openly tell them you will regularly check their social media accounts.
- Keep Private: My mantra is if you don’t want your grandmother to know about it, don’t post it on social media. This also means never giving out private information if a stranger could obtain that content.
- Be Kind: It’s a challenge for even well-intentioned kids to avoid making others feel excluded. With everything on display, be honest with your friends or they will find out later. And never make fun of anyone online.
How do you control your child's cellphone use? Tell us below!