A “home” mobile phone? TikTok mom explains this smart family solution

When do you give your child a cell phone? What kind of boundaries do you set? From banning social media to limiting the amount of time they can spend on their phones, it feels like there will always be a battle over cell phones. And yes, that struggle usually starts with deciding if and when you want your child to do it have a phone. The world is a scary place full of creeps, and the idea of ​​giving these weirdos yet another way to attach themselves to our children is, let’s be honest, a little scary. All of these are reasons why a TikTok mom has come up with a smart solution for cell phones, phone security, and easing your family into the fully connected life: a cell phone that’s a house phone.

One of the smartest ways to deal with cell phones and kids is to make sure you set your child up to be as safe as possible—which is easier said than done when you give your child a personal cell phone and they immediately assume it’s is “private.” Also, no one likes to feel like a jerk… even when you know it’s for their own good. But this is where the brilliance of the “house” mobile comes into play. Confused? It is actually a fairly simple, affordable solution that allows both parties (parents and children) to feel like they are the winners in the mobile phone “battle”. At least for a while.

“What’s the right age to get a child a cell phone? I came up with an idea that works for my family, and it might work for yours too,” begins Tori Phantom. “We have a home phone without a landline. It’s an iPhone that’s not private property. It’s a smartphone that stays at home and anyone can use it, which is a great tool to teach kids about phone safety.”

This updated version of a landline home phone (yes, landlines exist, Gen Z) comes with some sweet perks that didn’t exist when we were kids.

“Now the bonus with this home phone is that it can leave the house if one of my kids is going out without me,” Phantom continues. “This really only comes up with my oldest child. She doesn’t need or want a phone. And she’s a tween, so none of her pants have pockets, so where does she put it? But if she goes to her friend’s house without me, she can take the phone with her and we have a way to communicate.”

Of course, it’s not just a phone that one sibling has and the other children borrow. It belongs to the whole family. It has text capabilities and Facetime as well. “Everyone can use it,” states the TikTok mother. “My middle boy likes to call me when I’m at the store. One time there was a spider on the wall. Most times she wants me to bring Oreos home. My oldest likes to Facetime my brother so she can play Stardew Valley with her uncle.”

Phantom explains that the idea came in a moment of exasperation – no doubt the same one that spurred many parents to invest in “second lines” for their homes when we were kids.

“I came up with this idea when my oldest kid started giving my phone number to her friends. I got dropped into a group chat with a bunch of 10-year-olds and thought, ‘This is not going to work.’ So I got a new phone line on my old iPhone. And now we got a home phone,” Phantom shared. “Giving your kids an iPhone with no expectation of privacy attached to it leaves a lot of room for conversations about phone safety and etiquette,” explains Phantom. “We’re currently working on spamming – texting me ‘mom’ 70 times won’t get me to pick up the phone while driving. Anyway, doing it this way has made me feel comfortable to give my kids access to a phone. , there’s no social media allowed on it.”

Many of us use these iPhones until they can’t be saved, and only then do we get a new one. But it doesn’t have to be an iPhone or a phone that was once owned by you. Refurbished phones are relatively cheap options, and you can often find neighbors giving away old phones in your neighborhood “buy nothing” group. Not sure if you can afford an extra line on your phone bill? Most smartphones can work on wifi, and you can also look at secure calling apps. Another option is to switch to a cheaper carrier, such as Mint or PureTalk.

No matter how you connect your kids with their friends, there’s no wrong answer as long as you teach them how to be safe. It is also perfectly acceptable to avoid phones altogether. Remember how quiet life was before we all had cell phones?