Oddly that pain shows the way to progress.

This is a great message I’ll be sharing with my son. And good morning to you from everyone at MidAmerica Basement Systems sir!

My kids get a phone when they are old enough to drive. We don’t encourage early driving so that’s 16 years old here. We have tracking on the phone so we can see where they are in case something happens.
Phones are expected to be used as tools and education devices but inevitably they become entertainment devices as well. However, they are closely monitored in order that they don’t spend too much time on them. I always preach that learning is only good so long as you spend time putting what you learned to work.
One son has learned and continues to learn about automobile mechanics and runs his own shop now at age 23.
My next son learned cabinet making and woodworking and is working full time running our cabinet shop and building and installing cabinets for our customers at age 21.
My daughter is learning horticulture and can make just about anything grow. She is way into roses and has even cultured some of her own unique species at age 19.
All of that was made possible by information that’s really accessible on their phones. All of the negatives you mention are there as well but we encourage them to focus on the positives and then put that knowledge to work. The rewards of the fruits of their labor is far greater than any endorphins they might get from social media and other types of wastes of time.
As with anything, the solution to kids on their phones is not government intervention but more parental oversight.

My twin boys are 12. Still no phones yet. Almost every friend they have at their age has one. Crazy!

13 years old for our kids…and all the negatives you mention we see…

My wife and I are presently struggling with this for all of the reasons you have provided. There has to be parameters. Unfortunately with their devices, those tend to get skewed when we are busy. It’s much easier to let them veg out on the devices than have them bothering us while we are trying to work or get things done. It’s setting boundaries and sticking to them. We are struggling with getting out 11 year old a phone for her birthday. That seems crazy young to me, but she is actually the last of her friends to have one. I do see the benefit, because we will leave her home at times and we need to be able to get ahold of her, but we also see the limitations that must be set and adhered to. It’s a great tool but can also be a great problem. Not something that can be taken lightly or ignored.

13 for my boys, wish i waited longer.

Ella didn’t get a phone till she was 15 and it was a flip phone. She could text, we had location tracking and call. She didn’t get a smart phone till she was 19 and it was a gift when she went in the Navy. Kids today all have school issued laptops you have to purchase, so they can look up information that way.

No, there is this thing called the universe that throws curveballs and yes we can choose how we respond but no we don’t get to always choose the outcome. This is that cheap motivational jargon that thinks it is a magic wand. Easy to say and takes no effort on the speakers side. Less sobering and more of a koolaide if anything. Reality means having more compassion than this and you can still be just as resilient and successful if not more.

That one hits the nail on the head. I try to spread that work to people constantly. I find it rude.
Thank you for these wonderful insights!

My brother always says “hang up and hang out”- so important to remember!