How to Limit a Kid's Phone Use

Most kids love to talk on the phone and many have cell phones of their own these days. Spending excessive time on the phone may be harmful to your child, however. The Center on Media and Child Health reports that the more time kids spend on the phone, the more likely they are to suffer from anxiety and depression. Teens with cell phones may spend too much time on the phone at night, causing them not to get enough sleep. Some kids bully other children through text messages. Limiting your kids' phone use can improve their health and well-being.

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk to your kids about responsible phone use, and establish rules about when they may and may not use the phone.

    • 2

      Prevent your kids from taking cell phones to places where it would be considered inappropriate to talk on the phone or send text messages, such as school or church. Insist they leave cell phones at home.

    • 3

      Prevent your kids from talking on the phone at night by insisting they leave phones in a common area when they go to bed.

    • 4

      Establish consequences for your kids if they use the phone inappropriately and stick to them. Examples of appropriate consequences might include temporary loss of phone privileges, increased limits on phone use, or closer monitoring of telephone calls.

    • 5

      Purchase a cell phone that only allows kids to call certain numbers, like mom and dad, if you really want to limit your kids' phone use. You can also select a phone without Internet and text messaging capabilities.

    • 6

      Provide your kids with a prepaid cell phone, and teach them to budget their minutes wisely. This limits the amount of time they can spend on the phone each day.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How Are Children Affected With a Parent Who Works the Night Shift?
      Some parents prefer to work the night shift because it allows them to spend the day doting on their small children, while other families suffer through the inconvenience because its the only way to make ends meet. Its a difficult choice, however, bot
    • Michigan Programs for Kids With Incarcerated Parents
      Kids with a parent in prison face a set of challenges that can sometimes prove overwhelming. Children whose parents have done time in prison are more likely than other children to end up in prison too. To prevent this from happening and give kids the
    • How to Write a Permission Letter to a Principal
      Schools require parental permission to allow students to make field trips to public parks, performances, museums and other education-enriching activities outside of the classroom. Permission letters are an official document showing that a parent or g