why i gave my 8 year old phone without screen 2026

Dont lecture about screen time rules. Parents keen on curbing screen use often. Heres how parents can keep their children safe when they get their first cell phone. · if all of your child’s friends have phones , your child may feel left out or socially isolated without one, which can impact their emotional well-being. Should my child get a phone? She was not surprised to hear that my 8 - year - old has been asking for a phone since preschool. Should i give my 8-year-old a phone? My parents gave me a flip phone when i was around eleven. They wanted me to have it so i could text and call them, since i’d be walking to and from school on my own. Why does my 8-year-old need a screen-free phone? This guide shares 20 simple, age-appropriate ways to explain why your family is waiting—covering topics like online safety, mental health, brain development, social pressure, and the benefits of staying present and connected in real life. · with that in mind, follow these four strategies to help your child reclaim their time from digital screens : · kids need healthy boundaries for safe smartphone use. “from a neuroscience perspective, they beg for it because it hits all those dopamine pathways the way cocaine or alcohol hit,” she says. That said, giving your child a phone isn’t a one-time event but a long-term commitment to their digital education and safety. We both love the tin can. What should parents do if their kids dont have a smartphone? · i chose a screen -free, internet-based phone for my 8 - year - old to offer freedom, safety, and responsibility.