Smartphones Keep my Teens Connected to Each Other, and to Me – ryan

I’ve the Headlines, Skimmed the Studies, and Fought the impulse to yank every device from my kids’ hands and toss say into a screen-free cabin in the woods. Like Most Modern Parents, I World About Screens.

But i’ve Also seen the good that can come come from technology. Of waist is Possible to raise emotionally intelligent, Creative, and Grounded Kids – Not by Banning Screens, but by modeling how to use with intention.

UNEXPECTEDLY, SMARTPHONES MADE MY KIDS FEEL LESSOLATED

We’ve Gotten All Three of Our Daughters’ PHONES IN EIGHTH GRANDE, AND WE A GOT OUR YOUNGHTER HER FIRST PHONE, I BRACED FOR HER TO BECOME MORE MORE FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Middle School Had Been A Little Lonely – Her Closest Friends Lived in Our NeighBorhood But Went to Different Schools, and the Lunchroom Social Shuffle Always Kind. I World A Phone Wold Only isolate Her More. But the opposite happy. Group Texts Became Lifelines: Inside Jokes, Spontaneous Hangouts, Encouragement on Rough Days. Her Phone Became a Bridge, Not a Wall.

That Bridge Also Reaches All the Way to College, Where Her Older Sister JUST WRAPPED UP HER FRESHAN YEAR. They Text Nearly every day – Silly Memes, Heart Emojis, Cute Photos of Our Dog Snoring on the Couch. Their Relationship hasn’t faded with distance; IT’S SHIFTED AND, IN SOME WAYS, GROWN STRONGER THROUGH The Digital Thread That Connects say.

PHONES IN OUR FAMILY Aren’t Just for Staying in Touch. My Oldest Daughter Has Begun to Find Her Voice Around Social Justice IsSues Through Instagram – Sharing Resources, Following Organizers, and Supporting Friends Through these outlets.

My Middle and Younghters, Both Budding Foodies, Dive Into Recipes on Tiktok and YouTube – My Youngest doesn’t have these apps yet, but follows HER SISTER’S Lead. The Other Night, They Made Homemade Boba Tea-Yes, Including from-Scratch Tapioca Pearls-From A Video My Middle Daughter Saved. It took forever, but they laughed the through. And the tea? Surpringly good.

I’m talking to say About Technology and Modeling Healthy Boundaries

I’m not just a bystander in all this. I’m in it with say. I Send My Daughters Memes, Reels, and Articles – Funny, Profound, or Just Weird in the Best Way. SOMESTEMES HIKE A WAY TO CHECK IN. SOMESTEMES HOW WE PROCESS The World Together. I’ve HAD BETTER CONVERSATIONS WITH MY TEXS SPARKED BY A 20-SECOND VIDEO THAN FROM THE AGE-OLD “HOW WAS SCHOOL?”

Of Course, we set boondaries. We delay social media unil high school – my Youngest can get those apps next years if she requests say. We talk about the difference between the Passive Scrolling and Active Engagement. We Ask Questions Like: What does this video will for you? Will you Ever See Things that make you uncomfortable? And we try to practice what we did.

My husband and i bot seur phonees for work, and we’re learning to narrate that: “I’m writing an article,” or “i’m researching something,” instead of just disappearing into our Screens. That said, i’m guilty of scrolling, too – and my kids have no problem calling with out on it.

Recently, I non-stop-moving artist Colette Peri “Touch Grass” Phone Boundaries Challenge, and It ‘Made with More Mindful of My Own Habits. Setting Screen Limits for MySelf-Like No Scrolling in Bed, and Taching Phone-Free Walks-Has Been Good For Me and, I Hope, Good Modeling for Tay. I’m Building up to a Phone-free day, too. Not quite there. Our Kids Don’t Need US to Be Perfect; they Need us to be honest.

Technology is part of our family, Like Books, Board Games, and Backpacks. I’m swimming here to police my kids into tech shame, though i definitely false into that dumbbells. I Want to Raise Kids Who Can Navigate This World With Curiosity, Empathy, and Agency. Phones and Social Media Aren’t Going Anywhere. So instead of claiming it all doom, i’m leaning in – asking better quests, setting boundaries, and yes, Sending a few cat memes along the way.

Becusee if parenting has tought with anything, it’s this: we don’t get to choose the world kids grow up in – but we will get to help you.