His classmates told him that their parents let them borrow their cell phones whenever they wanted, and in my case, I don’t lend him my phone. He threw himself on the floor and yelled that it was unfair and that I was the worst mom in the world. Honestly, I felt terrible, but I’m also worried. I know that many children have access to screens all the time, but I don’t want my son to get used to that. Sometimes I wonder if I’m overreacting, if I should let him use it for a while, but then I see how other children are glued to their screens without looking up and I get scared. Am I doing the right thing?
I swear kids think we are the worst people ever for trying to set boundaries. I get the worst mom comment at least once a week for something as simple as saying no to an extra cookie. It’s exhausting! The thing is, you’re doing this because you care. It’s not easy to go against the grain when it feels like everyone else is doing the opposite, but you have your reasons, and they’re good ones. Kids don’t understand long, term consequences yet, so of course they think we’re being unfair. But honestly? You’re doing great. He’s not going to remember being mad about this in a few years, but he will remember you being present and engaged with him instead of distracted by screens
You are absolutely not overreacting! There are so many studies now showing how excessive screen time can affect kids’ attention spans, social skills, and even sleep patterns. You’re making a conscious choice to protect your son’s development, and that’s amazing. One thing that might help is offering alternatives that make him feel like he’s not missing out, maybe a special toy or activity he gets to do instead? I’ve also heard of parents creating tech tickets where kids get a certain amount of supervised screen time that they can spend when they want, which helps them learn self, regulation. Maybe that’s something to try?
Oh wow, I feel this so much. My daughter is also 6, and we have the same rule about no phone, and she constantly tells me that all her friends get to use their parents’ phones whenever they want. The guilt trip is real! It’s so tough because I don’t want her to feel left out, but I also don’t want her glued to a screen 24/7. We’ve compromised by allowing her to use a tablet for specific things educational apps, video calls with family but only at set times. Maybe you could set a rule where he gets a little supervised screen time? It helps with the fomo while still keeping control over what they’re consuming. Just know that you’re not alone in this!
You’re definitely not alone in this struggle. Screen time is one of the biggest parenting battles these days. One thing that has worked for us is setting very clear expectations in advance. We have a rule that screens are only for weekends, and even then, only for a limited time. That way, there’s no daily negotiation. It was rough at first, but now my kids don’t even ask during the week anymore. Maybe setting a clear boundary like that could help? It takes the decision-making out of the moment, so there’s less room for pushback
Wow, I feel so much better knowing I’m not alone in this. You all have given me so much to think about, and I really appreciate the support! 
I feel you. It’s like no matter what you do, you’re either the mean mom or the lazy mom for letting them have screens. There’s no winning. My son also tells me that all his friends have phones and that I’m the worst for not letting him have one yet. It’s exhausting. Just know that you’re not the only one dealing with this. It’s hard, but you’re doing what’s best for him!
I completely understand where you’re coming from! One thing that’s helped in our house is giving our son specific tasks where he does get to use a screen, but in a way that teaches responsibility. For example, he can use my phone to call his grandparents, or to play an educational game for a set amount of time. That way, he doesn’t feel completely left out, but we’re still keeping boundaries. Also, talking to him about why we limit screen time has helped a lot. I’ve explained that too much screen time can affect his sleep and brain development, and he actually gets it at least, some days lol. Maybe trying that could help ease the tantrums?
My son threw a full, blown meltdown last week because I wouldn’t let him watch YouTube on my phone while we were out to dinner. I felt like all the other parents were staring at me, and I almost caved just to stop the embarrassment. But I know if I do it once, it’ll become the expectation every time. It’s so hard to stand firm, but I keep reminding myself that I’m teaching him important skills, patience, self, regulation, creativity. It might not seem like it now, but I truly believe we’re doing the right thing in the long run. Stay strong, mama!