Kids & Smartphones: Rules Every Parent Should Set Before Handing Over a Phone
Handing your kid a phone isn’t a tech decision, it’s a leadership one. In this episode,
Sue lays out the mindset and the must-haves that separate a calm, values-driven phone
handoff from a chaos spiral. We’ll show you how to define the why, set expectations that
actually stick, and avoid the most common trap parents don’t see coming, until it’s too
late.
What We Talk About
The question to answer before you even look at devices
How to decide readiness without using age as the yardstick
The “first-phone” agreement that does the heavy lifting (and why most fail)
Training-wheel options that buy you freedom without turning you into the phone
police
The silent risks hiding in notifications, group chats, and late-night DMs, and the
simple way to defuse them
You’ll Walk Away With
A tight structure for your Family Phone Agreement (purpose → boundaries →
safety → accountability)
A quick gut-check to decide if now is the right time…or not yet
A short list of safer first-device pathways to consider
Highlights
Why this milestone is different from every other purchase
Readiness: the three behaviors that matter more than age
The agreement clause that prevents 90% of arguments
Devices that ease you in (without opening the floodgates)
The 3–6 month review that keeps you in the driver’s seat
Resources Mentioned
Family Phone Agreement
Quiz: Ask Mom “First-Phone Gut Check”
Tools: Starter-device paths and monitoring options discussed in-episode
One-Liner to Remember
Don’t buy a phone - build a plan. The device is hardware; the rules are the
operating system.
Connect
Sue Donnellan: AskMomParenting.com | Instagram | YouTube
Work with Sue: Free consult | Programs & courses
Press play to get the blueprint, so the first phone builds trust, not drama.
🔗 Links & Resources:
· Free Facebook Group: Yell-Free Parenting for Exhausted Moms
· Sue’s Book: Secrets to Parenting Without Giving a F^ck
· Want 1-on-1 coaching? Book here
· Get Sue’s Weekly Newsletter: Subscribe now
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