With the advent of smart phones, parents had no warning, and peer pressure to be “in on it” was huge. We didn’t want our teen to be the only one who couldn’t see what all their friends were doing.
Turns out, young minds do best with lots of sleep and less concern about their friends’ “selfies” or the latest gossip. Excessive screen time is damaging.
We are now learning that a large portion of these first-generation smart-phone-teens are struggling, even more than typically, with emancipation issues.
I see babies in shopping carts, mesmerized by moms’ phones. In itself, it’s probably not harmful; but it is the start of choosing a potentially damaging distraction from one’s own real life.
As a grandparent, I encourage all new parents to choose carefully when considering giving their precious kids a phone. A simple cell phone, (specifically designed?) will fill the bill for keeping kids and parents connected and enable conversations with friends.
Smart phones are for adults. Maybe a graduation gift.
Linda Vaughan
Everett
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