Why Every Family Needs a “home Cell Phone”

Most likely, you have not had a landline phone for many years, and if you do, you rarely use it. But you can’t deny that having a central telephone for all family members was pretty cool when it was all the rage. Several adult households may be coordinating children with doctors and teachers , and you should avoid invasive spam calls coming directly to you, wherever you are. Home phones have always had their merits, but the new TikTok from popular parenting authority demonstrates why having a cell phone for home is a necessary modern twist that can help your kids get used to their own phone one day in the future and stay safe now.

Why do you need a home cell phone?

It may seem unnecessary to have a cell phone just for your home since every adult in this place has one and can be contacted in seconds, but TikTokker ToriPhantom recently told its 4.4 million followers why it makes sense.

They have a mobile phone at home that is “not private property” and can be used by anyone, even children who don’t have their own phone. Not only does this teach kids to use their phone while still being supervised (nothing can be private on a shared device), but when they leave the house, they can take their home phone with them to stay in touch with their parents. and other key adults.

“My middle child loves to call me when I’m in the store (once there was a spider on the wall; more often than not she wants me to bring her Oreos),” says ToriPhantom on TikTok. “My oldest loves to Facetime with my brother so she can play Stardew Valley with her uncle.”

It’s also, they note, “a great tool for teaching kids how to use the phone safely” because there’s no expectation of privacy when the whole family can use it, and screen time is more naturally limited. This opens the door to a lot of conversations about phone use and safety, but kids still get to use the device to communicate with family or friends.

When should your child receive a phone?

There is a lot of debate about when your child should get their first smartphone. You have to consider their level of maturity, how often they are away from you, the potential danger of social media for their mental and even physical health, and the social consequences they may face if they are unable to participate in online life with their friends. A 2019 Common Sense Media survey found that more than half of all children in the US had their own smartphone by age 11, and more than two-thirds by age 12, but every child is different.

Using your home cell phone to talk openly with your kids can help you determine when they’re ready to talk on their own, so the next time you’re ready to upgrade your iPhone, keep your old one.