When I was a kid, I never knew if I was missing out on something my friends were doing. The only way to find out was by seeing them playing basketball in the neighborhood or spotting a cluster of bikes in someone’s driveway. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) was virtually nonexistent. Sure, you might hear about a birthday party the following week at school, but ignorance was often bliss.
Today, kids are bombarded with feelings of loneliness as they scroll through their phones, seeing their friends out and about without them. Most children won’t even tell their parents how they feel in these moments. This is why we need to teach our kids to be more social and minimize their time on social media—or better yet, avoid social media altogether.
Teach Your Kids to Be More Social
Next time you drive through your neighborhood, count how many kids you see playing outside. The more I talk with parents, the more I hear that kids are either inside on a device or, even if they’re with friends, they’re still on their phones. We need to have conversations with our kids about spending more time with friends without devices. It should be on our kids to make time for their friends, but if we see them stuck in a rut of screen time, we need to advocate for quality time with friends.
My wife and I encourage our kids to spend time with friends. We don’t mind having their friends over or driving them to the mall or gym to spend quality time together. Being in the moment and creating memories will do wonders for your child’s mental, physical, and emotional health. The less time they spend watching others have fun and the more time they spend having fun with friends and family, the more whole they will feel. Additionally, the more comfortable your kids are interacting with others, the better prepared they will be for the future. Real-life social skills will help them succeed in job applications and school admissions.
The Poisonous Effects of Social Media
Recently, I had Gabb CEO Nate Randle on the Art of Fatherhood podcast. He made a compelling analogy about giving your kid a smartphone designed for adults. Nate said giving your kid a phone that does everything is like putting them in the deep end of a pool when they are just learning to swim. It doesn’t make sense. You want to ease your child into using a smartphone. Handing them a phone with everything at their fingertips is not the answer.
One of the dangers of a fully functional smartphone is access to social media. Studies have shown that social media can lead to anxiety, depression, irritability, isolation, and reduced interaction with friends and family. To help curb these dangers, you need to provide your child with a phone free from social media. Phones and smartwatches from Gabb can connect the family without the risks of social media. If you’re hesitant about getting your child a smartphone due to social media and other threats, I highly recommend checking out what Gabb has to offer. Kids can enjoy having a smartphone while parents have the peace of mind of staying connected to their children. Visit gabb.com to learn more.
Please note: I teamed up with Gabb for this post and campaign and was compensated, but my thoughts are my own.
Well said, Art. I get frustrated when I walk into the family room and my kid and his friends are on their phones. I tell them to put the phones on the kitchen table and go out & play.
Thank you, Phil. Glad you encouraged them to go out and play.
One of friend’s kids needed to completely get all the social media apps because he was having a tough time. I will tell then about these phones.
You are a good friend, Curt.
Can you imagine if all things tech wise was as simple as this? We need more thinking like this. This company seems like they really care about people.
Well said, Paul!
My kids laugh at me when I talk about the good ol days from when I was a kid. I tell them that my generation didnt have all the issues that stem from social media. As they get older they realize that their dad is on to something. I wish my kids had these phones when they were younger.
Thank you for sharing your story, Travis. I really appreciate it.
I think my grandkids would love these phones. I will let my daughter know about this.
You are a great grandma, Denise!
Our kids school mentioned Gabb phones at a parent/teacher event where social media was a main focus. Lot of kids are struggling with the new year and dealing with social media. Glad to see a company like Gabb caring about our kids.
Gabb really cares about families. Love to see them getting love at your school.