Cell phones-help!

Cell phones-help!
Posted on 03/04/2016
By: Amy Hrobak
Guidance Counselor, 6-8

Cell phones: we love them, we hate them. Whether we like it or not, cell phones have become a part of our day to day functioning. For many teens, much of their social life happens or is relived online, or via text. Developmentally, friendships are at the forefront of teens' hierarchy of needs, thus putting the phone down and being present can be a challenge. Excessive cell phone use can lead to poor study skills, incomplete homework, lost sleep, and missing quality connections with others. Here are good reminders for setting healthy limits for teen cell use:
  1. Go "cell-phone free" during homework time, even if this means you have to hold onto the phone. 

  2. Encourage reading, writing, art, sports and other activities that do not involve the use of cell phones.

  3. Model behavior that you want to see in your teen. Even though they may not show it, teens look up to their parents as models of how to behave and interact. Teens notice when we tell them to put their phones away while we text during dinner.

  4. Create and encourage time to communicate face to face, and power-off phones during these times.

  5. Establish time limits for usage, especially a power-off time before bedtime. Endless social media posts and texts lure teens to continue communicating far past their bedtimes.
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