Full transcript
0:01All right, a study done in May of this
0:02year showed that 50% of teenagers have
0:05admit to being addicted to their cell
0:07phones.
0:08With school back in session, creating
0:10limits and having an open dialogue can
0:11help minimize the consequences of that
0:14addictive electronic behavior. I so
0:17believe it. I mean, you you have kids,
0:18you understand, too. Well, our next
0:20guest, Michelle Akalee, is here to share
0:22three tips to teaching kids about
0:24healthy limits with cell phones and
0:27other electronics. This is such an
0:29important topic. Something we're all
0:30going through. It doesn't matter really
0:32the age of your child. So, let's talk
0:33about cell phones
0:35and teens. Is it really possible to set
0:37healthy limits? And what is a healthy
0:39limit? So, we don't want to, but it's
0:41mandatory. So, even with little kids
0:44dealing with iPads and screens and other
0:46electronics, the way that their brain
0:48thinks when they get a screen in front
0:50of them is actually limiting them, and
0:52they need more opportunities for play
0:53and other things. But, I'm not just
0:55worried about the time that they're
0:56spending on their phones. I'm worried
0:59about how those phones affect the way
1:00they communicate, because they say so
1:02many things technologically that they
1:04wouldn't say verbally. We have to give
1:06them more opportunities to be human and
1:08have those conversations so that as they
1:10grow, it doesn't become as hard. Not to
1:12mention
1:13encourage the English language. You
1:15know, LOL. Yes. It's nothing great. It's
1:18okay. Now, it sounds like
1:20the conversation simply will not go
1:21away. We've been talking about this and
1:22talking about this. How do you recommend
1:25we keep it relevant?
1:26Yes. Okay. So, some parents will say as
1:29soon as they get their phones, they sit
1:30down and they set and establish rules,
1:31and I think that's great. I think the
1:33good, better, best of that is that we're
1:34having regular conversations and regular
1:36check-ins. Whether that's once a week or
1:38once a month, let your kids know that
1:40you're going to be checking in on them
1:41and having some of those new
1:42conversations. So, as as you hear about
1:44things that are happening in the news
1:46and texting strings that are going bad
1:48and social media things that they can
1:50always have that constant conversation.
1:52So, it needs to be regular and not just
1:53one time. I'm terrified.
1:56I am terrified. Yeah, I mean, you're
1:57right. And what is to come with all of
1:59this? Okay, so what what are ways that
2:01we can set these healthy limits? Yes.
2:03So, establish cell phone free zones and
2:05technology free zones. And this is
2:06pretty common. People will say they'll
2:07put them away and they won't use them at
2:09dinner. But, like set in a a cell phone
2:11bedtime. Like at 9:00 p.m. it's not
2:13allowed to go in their rooms. Um make
2:15sure the technology goes off and goes
2:16away so that they have that time away
2:18and they're just thinking and not going
2:19to sleep with their phones. Um but
2:21setting other times, like if friends are
2:22over, no screens. And setting times
2:25where after school that for a certain
2:26amount of time, the phones have to go
2:27away so they can have conversations with
2:29parents and other family members. And
2:31you might need more than you think. And
2:33so, it might not just be an hour that
2:34they go away, but having regular
2:36intervals where they're having that
2:37communication, but then also using other
2:39parts of their brains, as well.
2:40That is one of my biggest pet peeves. I
2:41have to say that. My My My son, a friend
2:43will come over and they want to watch
2:45the iPad together, and I'm like, "No,
2:47let's talk.
2:48toys." And you talk about cell phone
2:51free zones, but not just for kids. We
2:53got to talk about the parents, too. I
2:54mean, I'm guilty of this. So, I my I
2:56work online 100% of the time. If I'm not
2:58traveling speaking, I am on my phone.
3:00I'm doing social media. I'm doing
3:01marketing. And so, I'm the worst
3:03offender. I joke that my kids know me
3:05like the top of my head. Like this is
3:06their best view of me.
3:08And so, I have to set those boundaries,
3:10too. And I also have to set more,
3:11because they need to see me interacting
3:13with them. They need to see me
3:14interacting with adults. They need to
3:15see me have limits, because even though
3:17that's my work, to them it's all play.
3:19It's all the same. So, we have to be the
3:21ones to set those rules, those
3:23boundaries, and be even more strict for
3:25ourselves so that they see that as a
3:26pattern of behavior. Michelle, tell us
3:28where we can find out more information
3:30for people who are really interested in
3:31knowing more about this topic.
3:32Yeah. So, I love talking about all
3:33things technology on my website at
3:35speakmichelle.com. And if you go to
3:37speakmichelle.com/ksl,
3:39I've got some specific things just for
3:40you.
3:41Michelle, thanks. Great. Such good
3:43advice. We all need it. You and I need
3:44it. I need to get rid of my cell phone.
3:46All right, thanks, Michelle.