Become a Dumb Phone Family

Research suggests that the average age a child gets his first smart phone is 10. Once a parent gives a child the smart technology - entitlement, behavioral issues, pornography, and inappropriate relationships can ensue.

Here's a novel idea, you don't have to give your child a smart phone (or tablet).

Read that last sentence again. And it applies even if she begs and tells you that all of her other friends have one...YOU don't have to give her a phone.

Psychologists and Counselors see it time and time again, smart technology causes one of the largest riffs within the parent-child relationship. So why hand them one?

Become a Dumb Phone Family.

• There is a growing movement of parents committed to not giving their child smart devices until they are in high school.
• Instead, parents choose to give their child a "dumb phone" so that they can simply make/receive calls.

These parents choose to delay smart technology until the child is mature enough to learn how to handle its sophistication.

Is it too late for my child if he already has a smart phone?

• Remember, you're still the parent, and you can do whatever you want to do. Consider putting more parameters on their smart technology use or even only giving it to them on certain days/hours. Any little change can help your child develop healthy emotional/relational skills - away from smart phone use.
• Also, ask all of your parent friends to join the movement, and as a group of committed parents - take back / limit all of their smart phones.

To join, sign the petition and commit to not giving personal smart devices to your children until they hit high school. For more information, visit dumbphonefamily.com.