Delaying Smartphones for kids: Why millennial parents are choosing non smart phones

You know you’re a millennial parent if… you walk into a room and cringe when everyone is on separate devices. Or you hate that your kid prefers watching YouTube Shorts to playing outside. Or you value offline experiences, but can manage your digital calendar like a pro.

If this is you and you grew up without a smartphone, you likely had a much different childhood than kids these days. And now you’re looking around at your family, where everyone is checked out and aimlessly scrolling, and you’re thinking, “This is not what I imagined.” You’re not alone. Millennial parents around the world share the same thoughts, and some are doing something about it. Enter the rise of non smart phones or no internet phones.

Why millennial parents feel differently about smartphones

As a millennial, growing up in the 80s and 90s just looked different. You weren’t constantly connected, likely had more independence, relied more on creative play and had more face-to-face interactions.

Do you remember what it was like to fight over the corded phone in the kitchen? Or to have your sibling answer the phone and holler, “It’s for you!” In those days, there was endless unstructured time. And by the time you grew up, home phones had left the scene, and you got a smartphone. Consider yourself part of the lucky generation that grew up with an analog childhood and entered into a digital adulthood.

Today, parents often feel pressure to start smartphone use early. Maybe you worry about safety and social expectations, you find it hard to just let kids be kids or you hate the idea of your kid being the only one without a smartphone. So, you introduce a smartphone, and it’s too early. Kids today are the phone generation, and it doesn’t always sit well, especially with parents that have smartphone fatigue themselves.

Problems with the phone generation

The problem is that some adults can’t control their smartphone use, so how can we expect kids to? In fact, a recent Pew Research study reveals that nearly half of teens report their parents being distracted by their phones when they’re trying to talk to them. On the flip side, 42 percent of parents feel disconnected from their kids due to screen time.

The result of having a smartphone too early is apparent. The constant notifications, less face-to-face communication, passive consumption instead of active play, all add up. According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids with smartphones have a higher incidence of depression, attention span issues, obesity and problems sleeping.

All of this is leading some parents to question if there’s a better way to stay connected without a smartphone. This is why some families are choosing no internet phones instead.

The solution: Shift from more tech to better tech

It’s fair for parents to want a line of communication and safety in place. But there are ways around this without handing a kid a smartphone. MyPhone for kids is a great solution here, whether you’re trying to delay smartphone use or going for a digital detox for your kids. It allows them to still have conversations that build connections with family and friends, and brings back the cool home phone. At the same time, it eliminates the constant connectivity and allows kids to take part in age-appropriate experiences without the constant notifications.

As kids get older and parents contend with after-school activities, other non-smart phones or a no-internet phone is a good solution. Phones like this provide calling and texting without apps or social media. It’s also a good transition between no phone to a smartphone when the time is right.

Benefits to families with better tech

Using technology in a strategic way has many benefits, and not just for kids. By delaying smartphone use, parents can:

• Maintain simplicity
• Set boundaries
• Ease kids into phone use
• Encourage offline play and creativity
• Pave the way for more face-to-face communication
• Introduce family time without devices
• Teach phone etiquette
• Assess smartphone readiness

Parents can set the example here by modeling healthy smartphone boundaries themselves. The goal is not for your kids to have FOMO, but to actually embrace the joy of missing out while learning smartphone responsibility along the way.

Move forward with intention

While it might feel like you’re moving back in time, you’re not. As a parent, you have every right to delay smartphone use and intentionally design how you want to move forward in a high-tech world. It’s a modern solution to a modern problem, and you have to do what’s right for your child and your family.

That said, there are recommendations around screen time for kids. The general recommendation is no screen time for kids under two years old, one hour per day for kids ages two to five years old, and up to two hours a day for kids ages five to 17.

These recommendations aren’t perfect, and there’s no recommended age for a smartphone. It’s important to realize that every family and child is different. The idea is that kids learn intentional technology habits and are given more free rein, as they can handle and accept the responsibility that comes with having a smartphone. Many tools and resources are available to help you assess readiness, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics 5Cs of Media Use Hub.

In the end, smartphone use is inevitable. But it’s up to you to determine when the right age is to introduce it. More and more millennial parents who remember what it was like growing up in the 80s and 90s are choosing to put it off and bring back the simpler childhood experience. This is made so much easier with better technology and resources, like a family home phone or the MyPhone for kids from Ooma.