Is taking away my child's phone a good punishment?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 25, 2026
Threatening to take away your teen's phone may seem like a great way to get them to do something they're avoiding. But it's usually not a good choice as a punishment.
Is taking away a phone negative punishment?
Positive punishment is when a bad thing is added and negative punishment is when a good thing is taken away. Since a good thing is taken away to decrease the likelihood that she will repeat her action, the removal of the phone is a negative punishment.
Why parents shouldn't take away phones at night?
The reason that electronic devices interfere with sleep is because the light emitted by those devices is like a wake up call to the human brain. Specifically, the light prevents a hormone called melatonin from building up in the brain. It's this nightly production of melatonin that enables us to fall asleep.
Is taking away a phone abuse?
When their phone is taken away, they associate this as taking away a part of themselves rather than a punishment for bad behavior. To them it's unjust. Additionally, when phones are taken away as punishment, it's immediately seen as a consequence not related to the behavior exhibited.
Is taking things away a good punishment?
If you take away a privilege that your child doesn't really care about, it won't be an effective negative consequence. Pick something that is really going to impact your child, but not in a punitive way. Sometimes the loss of privilege can be a logical consequence.
39 related questions foundWhy parents shouldn't take phones away?
Whether they are a child, tween or teenager, Dr Pell warns that taking their phone away only makes them lose their connections and causes them emotional pain. She also notes in the caption that by doing this, you are sabotaging your relationship with your child.
Is it OK for parents to take away your phone?
The answer to this question—should parents take away cell phones at night? — is much more definitive, say the experts. Yes, unless you are absolutely sure your teenager is able to put the phone away (and not pick it up) at bedtime. That's because screens and sleep do not mix.
How long should you take away your child's phone?
Taking the phone away for 24 hours can be a good starting place. What about safety issues? Letting your teen go to school without a phone in their pocket or allowing them to walk down the street without a phone isn't likely to cause them harm. After all, you likely grew up without access to a cell phone.
How much screen time should a 12 year old have?
8-10 years old: Six hours. 11-14 years old: Nine hours. 15-18 years old: Seven and 1/2 hours.
Should I take away my child's phone at night?
Yes. Parents should take away their child's cell phone at night. Doing so allows children to complete homework without distractions and sleep soundly without disruptions. Keeping cell phones in a common area can also cut down on behavioral problems and disorders caused by too much cell phone use.
Should I read my 14 year olds text messages?
Parents should randomly check their child's text messages (and other social activity online). As your child proves that he or she can communicate responsibly with their smartphones, lessen the frequency of the random checks.
What is the best punishment for a teenager?
Here are some ideas for appropriate consequences when your teen misbehaves:
- Allow Natural Consequences. ...
- Provide Logical Consequences. ...
- Assign Extra Chores. ...
- Opportunities for Restitution. ...
- Restricting Privileges. ...
- Types of Privileges to Restrict. ...
- Explain Restriction Limits. ...
- Following through with Restrictions.
Can my parents take my phone at 18?
So realistically, if the phone was a gift to you by your parents before you were an adult, since you are now an adult you have a right to privacy in all your affairs, including your mobile phone.
Should a 15 year old have a bedtime?
For teenagers, Kelley says that, generally speaking, 13- to 16-year-olds should be in bed by 11.30pm. However, our school system needs a radical overhaul to work with teenagers' biological clocks. “If you're 13 to 15 you should be in school at 10am, so that means you're waking up at 8am.
Is it okay to hit your teenager?
Don't grab, don't push, don't hit, don't intentionally block their way, don't corner them. It instantly makes them too upset, flooding them with intense emotions – anger, hurt, outrage – that they often can't control. It is not the same as when they are younger.
Why does my mom take my phone away?
Having your phone taken away by your parents is a relatively common punishment. Your parents may decide to take your phone away because you have abused your phone privileges. They may also decide to take your phone away as a punishment for a different mistake.
Should I let my kid have their phone in their room?
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that children ages six to 18 had an 88 percent higher risk of not sleeping enough when devices were in the bedroom and a 53 percent higher risk of getting a bad night's sleep—and that's when devices were in the bedroom just three nights a week.
Can I sue my parents for taking my phone?
If you are a minor (under 18) yes your dad can take your phone and no you cannot sue your parents.
Should I go through my daughter's phone?
As long as your child is aware, you're not snooping or performing some secret operation, just protecting them from potential harm. Being transparent also means your child won't feel uneasy about parental monitoring and should understand why it's necessary.
Can your parents control you at 16?
By law, you are still regarded as a minor until you are 18. This means your parents or guardians are still legally responsible for your welfare until you reach this age. This does not mean however that you have no say in decisions that directly affect you while you are under 18.
How do you punish a child who doesn't care?
Here are 10 tips for how to give consequences that work—even when kids say they don't care.
- Use Consequences That Have Meaning. ...
- Don't Try to Appeal to His Emotions with Speeches. ...
- Make Consequences Black and White. ...
- Talk to Your Child About Effective Problem-Solving. ...
- Don't Get Sucked into an Argument over Consequences.
What are good punishments?
10 Creative Ways to Punish a Child
- Time-Ins. Most parents would give their kids time-outs for bad behaviour, wherein the kids sit silently in a corner. ...
- Exercise. ...
- Make them do Chores. ...
- Timer. ...
- Practise. ...
- Punishment Jar. ...
- Cool-Off Time. ...
- Tidy Up the Clutter.
How do you punish a teenager that won't listen?
Here are some tips for setting clear limits:
- Involve your child in working out limits and rules. ...
- Be clear about the behaviour you expect. ...
- Discuss responsibilities with your child. ...
- Agree in advance with your child on what the consequences will be if they don't stick to the rules you've agreed on.
Should parents have children's passwords?
The rigid policies that maintain custody and control over children's passwords should raise serious privacy concerns for parents. Because such newly standardized practices arbitrarily ensure that strangers maintain control over children's personal identities, there are very real risks to privacy, safety and reputation.
How many parents check their child's phone?
Those numbers go down with age, but even up to 17, 43 percent of parents are checking their kids' phones, and over a third, 35 percent, are doing it without their kids knowledge. All it takes is ONE hit.