How to Hold Off On Giving Your Kid a Smartphone (Without Them Becoming a Social Pariah)

Todays young people, the argument goes, are more isolated, have shorter attention spans, and …

I just had to check something.

Anyway, smartphones are allegedly bad for kids.

But what if all your kids friends have smartphones and your child is the only one without?

You dont want them to be totally out of step with their peers.

I spoke to a few parents who have successfully managed to delay for their best tactical advice.

Take the Wait Until 8th Pledge

Cue theWait Until 8th Pledge.

Afraid your kid wont be able to get in touch with you in an emergency?

But what if you fill out your pledge but no one else does?

Its still a new thing, after all, and many parents wont have heard of it.

There will certainly be some parents who have the same concerns and worries about exclusion that you do.

It really takes the pressure off the parents who want to hold out.

Side note:Fourthgrade?

Lets be honest here: its not just children who are glued to their devices.

A smartphone and data plan for a kid is something Im going to seriously balk at paying for.

No smartphone doesnt mean no digital experiences at all.

Royalls kids can use the iPad on weekday mornings before breakfast and after dinner.

In between, they have to entertain themselves.

DellAntonia has a no-television-or-video-games-on-the-weekdays rule, but open season on the weekends.

Her older kids (11 and 13) also have iPads.

Keep them active, says Royall.

Get them a ball and a bike.

Encourage outdoor things like jumping from high places into water or being with their friends on a river.

Take walks every week.

Make them do sports.

And talk with themlike every night at dinner.

And other families might not share our values.

But we might get lucky.

Nope, he wants a flip phone.