Dads Get Advice on How To Handle Their Kid’s Phone Usage at Night

This is when parenting gets more challenging, when dads realize that changing diapers will be the easiest thing we do as a parent. Yeah, even the shittiest diapers are easier to handle than the complicated, nuanced, ever-evolving world of technology our kids are exploring and desiring. Here’s some advice recently given to a dad looking for help in handling his kid’s phone usage at night.

Christopher Michael: I am a simple person. I don’t care what other parents do in their own homes. In my house, my rules. I buy the phone, I pay the phone bill, I make the rules. Don’t like it, buy your own phone in your own home. Don’t worry about other parents and other kids, just your own. If that’s your rule, that’s your rule.

Ryan Bliss: That’s the rule in our house. Of course our son tells us that everyone else gets to keep their phones (and I do see his phone still buzzing away until 10 or so) but I tell him that it doesn’t matter in the slightest.

Jonathan Hart: We have the scientific data to show that today’s digital devices produce the same addictive response as alcohol, gambling, smoking, etc.
You wouldn’t let your kids into the liquor cabinet past 8:00. Put all your chargers in the garage – the whole family benefits.

Dave Kite: We are at a strange time with children and technology. We don’t know the long term effects just yet. I think you’re making the right choice, as it’s so easy to become reliant on phones. Setting a habit of ‘phone away time’ will hopefully keep them from living on it in later life. When my kids are old enough to have phones, they’ll be in the same position.

Grant Nevin: We set boundaries initially but then got lenient and lazy and had to find out from other parents what was being shared in chat groups was a bit crazy. When we looked at the phone his personal usage was unmentionable shocking. We all think our kids are angels trust me just set the rules in place and monitor the usage often! We were wondering why he was always tired and grumpy …no sleep.

Jennifer Pierce LaCombe: I have an app on my phone that controls my daughters phone. At 9pm all their apps disappear until 7am. No need for taking it away and fighting with them. You can also program it for homework time.

Vezemba Pk Kakujaha: I have 8 and 11 year old boys…@ 7 phones are off on weekdays…and I still control what they download as I keep their simcards. If the don’t behave I take their phones’ charger.

Stephen Vera: My daughter keeps hers as long as she’s responsible with it. We will check last text and call time every morning if it’s after 8pm then she will lose it for the day.

Michelle Patterson: I take my 11 year old daughters away at 745 pm. And she doesn’t get it till after chores and homework are done after school.

Michael So’oto: We have 5 kids and yes same rule. Even the 3yr old with the tablet. There is scientific evidence that it affects their sleep patterns. If I remember correctly they say you brain need and hour or two of non-screen time before bed.

How do you handle your kids phones at bedtime? Share your story with us on Facebook.

Flickr photo by m01229, used under Creative Commons license.