I never confiscate my kids’ phones as a means of punishment

Earlier today, I commented on a story that advocated for decisive actions against kids’ screen time.

I don’t claim to be a perfect parent, but I have a strong opinion about this topic. And as years go by and I observe my kids — I have four — grow up, I feel validated.

Let me tell a story. During the pandemic, our second son, turning thirteen at the time, was especially addicted to his phone. It was bad, and it was worrying. Day and night, he played this silly game called Brawl Stars. He got so good at it that he became one of the top players in the US. It was almost amusing at times, but most of the time, it wasn’t amusing. At the time, he was also going through an injury, so his athletic pursuits suffered. Plus, that period was messed all around when everything was disrupted — schooling and sports.

There were days when we were thinking — this is really bad; he’d be twenty-five, and he’d still be this immature, playing the stupid game.

Sometimes it got so bad that, of course, we fought with him and tried to restrict his screen time. However, even during the worst stretches, I avoided confiscating his phone.

Why?

There are several reasons.