No kidding. A recent study on teenagers and cell phones showed that when kids hear a ring tone or text alert their brains release dopamine. Yes, that’s the same reaction they have to taking drugs.
50% of teens admit to being addicted to their cell phones. And the addition is real, because when they can’t use them they experience actual physiological withdrawal symptoms, like nausea, sweating, and shaking.
Okay, parents. Here’s what to do. Limit kids’ data. Program the phone to cut off at certain times (like bedtime). Model not being glued to your own phone. Have family times (dinner?) when no phones are allowed. Maybe even have a day or an evening each week when no one in the family uses a cell phone.
The idea is to have breaks in the cell-phone use so the habit can be broken and so kids can learn that it’s okay not to be tied to it 24/7.
Worth a try? For our kids’ sake…and maybe our own?