PUTTING “TRAINING WHEELS” ON DEVICES
Instead of blunt prohibitions, families can adopt graduated exposure. Oxford professor Andrew Przybylski, for instance, gave his children their first phones since the age of three – but without internet access. Instead, their devices started with no more than an album of family pictures.
Progressively, he introduced more features such as access to the camera, a carefully curated set of audiobooks and songs, and eventually, the ability to call and text family. At each stage, the device was introduced with intention, conversation and gradual responsibility. He likened it to putting training wheels on bicycles.
