Stop Giving Phones to Kids

Stop Giving Phones to Kids

I get it. You’re tired, your kid is loud, and that glowing rectangle has magical powers. But before you hand it over, let’s have a real talk about what phones are actually doing to our kids. Giving young children full access to a smartphone is like giving them the keys to a Ferrari...on a rollercoaster…with no seatbelt. Here's why:

1.    The Dopamine Trap

  Phones are designed to be addictive. The constant scroll, ping, like—it hijacks the brain’s reward system, trains kids to seek hits of dopamine, and can mess with attention, sleep, and mental health.  I’ll say it clearly: Phones and young minds = higher rates of depression and anxiety 

2.    They See What You Don’t Want Them To See

  Phones are portals. And not all doors lead to Narnia. With a few wrong taps, kids can stumble into adult content, violence, or harmful ideologies. Philippians 4:8 calls us to dwell on what is true, noble, and pure. Smartphones don’t filter that for your child. You must.

3.    Cyberbullying Is Real

  Behind every screen is a person with a soul—and unfortunately, some of those souls are struggling. Kids can become targets…or bullies themselves. And unlike playground scuffles, digital wounds linger.

Parents, it’s important to examine your motives.  Are you just keeping up with what all the other families are doing?  It’s kind of hard to preach about the dangers of peer pressure when you’ve given in to it.  Phones aren’t evil. But they require maturity, boundaries, and a whole lot of wisdom. Don’t trade short-term ease for long-term damage.