Dear Parents,
It can be psychologically damaging to take away screen time from a teenager as a means of reflex punishment. While you may be frustrated by their seemingly constant use of social media and overdependence on their smartphone, it can be anxiety-inducing for a teen to have it taken away from them. When you take away a mobile device without warning, you sever their connection to the real world, no matter how tenuous that digital connection may seem to you.

Set clear boundaries and outcomes with your teenagers in advance. If your teen makes an informed choice that results in their device being taken away – although they may not like it, they can take ownership of the scenario.

Let’s work together.