I had already explained to him before that it wasn’t the right time yet, but this time I saw him differently. He was discouraged and even angry with me. I told him that every family makes their own decisions, that not all children have a mobile phone at their age, but he just looked down. I’m worried that he feels excluded or that he thinks that I don’t trust him, but I also know that there are many things on the Internet that can affect him. I keep wondering if I’m doing the right thing.
Ugh, this is so hard. My kid is 6 and already asking for one too. I feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle against tech!
My daughter went through the exact same thing last year, and it was heartbreaking to see her feel left out. I struggled with it because, like you, I wasn’t sure if I was being too strict or if I was making the right call. In the end, I explained to her that getting a phone comes with responsibilities, and we set up some “phone privileges” at home, like supervised tablet time for special occasions. It didn’t fix everything, but it helped her feel like she wasn’t missing out completely
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot, too. My son is 8, and every time he sees one of his friends with a phone, he comes home asking why he doesn’t have one. And I honestly don’t know what the right answer is. I keep wondering, are we holding them back socially if all their friends communicate through messages and games? Or are we protecting them from something they’re not ready for? It’s such a tough balance. How are you handling social interactions for your son? Does he feel left out when his friends text each other?
I have two teenagers, and I promise you, waiting is not a bad thing. We didn’t give my eldest a phone until she was 11, and even then, it was a basic phone without internet. She complained at first, but now that she’s older, she actually tells me she’s grateful we held off. Social media and unlimited internet access are huge responsibilities, and kids don’t always know how to navigate them safely. One thing we did to ease the transition was let her use an old family phone at home on WiFi, with strict time limits. Maybe that could work for you?
It won’t always feel this hard! The disappointment fades, and you’re teaching him patience and responsibility. He’ll thank you one day!
You’re definitely not alone in this. Research shows that kids who get phones later tend to have fewer issues with screen addiction, online bullying, and sleep problems. A friend of mine introduced a family tech plan where they had “tech-free zones” in the house, and her kids got a simple phone at 10, but no social media until 13. She said it really helped ease the transition. Maybe setting clear expectations now can help your son understand when and how he’ll eventually get a phone?
Wow, thank you all for sharing your experiences. It helps so much to hear from parents who have been through this already. I really like the idea of introducing some kind of limited device or privileges, just so he doesn’t feel completely left out. I think I’ll sit down with him and talk more about why we’re making this decision, and maybe set some goals for when he can have a phone. This parenting thing is tough!
, and I caved… worst mistake ever. He was constantly sneaking it at night, watching things I didn’t approve of, and even started having meltdowns when we tried to limit screen time. We ended up taking it away after a few months, and it was a nightmare. Now, we’re doing a slow introduction with a family tablet that stays in the living room. If I could go back, I would have waited