Parenting Expert Explains Why You Shouldn’t Take Your Child’s Phone Away As Punishment
Dr. Claire Halsey, a child psychologist, explains why parents should be wary about punishing their kids by taking away their phones.
“It can be tempting to take away a child’s device altogether as a way to manage excessive screen time, but this all-or-nothing approach generates a lot of conflicts and doesn’t help them make positive choices about where and when to have screen time,” advises Halsey.
“Of course, there are times when putting limits on screen time is appropriate. For example – to help your child focus on their homework or to switch off before bed, setting a rule to come off devices is helpful both to learning and sleep,” Halsey explains.
“Taking a device away for a short period (minutes rather than days) may be useful if a rule such as ‘no device before bedtime’ is broken.” Finally, Halsey says, “Keeping open communication about what’s seen online is vital in keeping children safe.”