Deciding when to give kids their first cell phone is challenging. Dr. Catherine Pearlman joins Brittany and Heather to discuss all things kids and cell phones, including what age, how to teach etiquette and rules around owning a phone, and how to approach tricky conversations about the dangers of the Internet.

Deciding when to give kids their first cell phone is challenging. Dr. Catherine Pearlman joins Brittany and Heather to discuss all things kids and cell phones, including what age, how to teach etiquette and rules around owning a phone, and how to approach tricky conversations about the dangers of the Internet.

about dr. catherine pearlman

Dr. Catherine Pearlman is the founder of The Family Coach and a licensed clinical social worker who has been working with children and families for more than 25 years. She’s on a mission to help parents enjoy parenting more. To that end, she advises on all matters of parenting from toddlers to teens on discipline, technology, behavior modification, food issues, sibling rivalry and more. Dr. Pearlman  is the author of First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety and Etiquette and Ignore It: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction. Dr. Pearlman received her doctorate in social welfare from Yeshiva University and her master’s degree in social work from New York University. She is the mom of two teens. 


WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: kids and cell phones

Why First Phone: A Child’s Guide to Digital Responsibility, Safety and Etiquette is different from other books about getting a cell phone
How to talk to your children about cyber bullying, sexting, and other dangers on the Internet
The pitfalls of cell phone alternatives like watches

other resources from Dr. catherine pearlman
First Phone Conversation StartersDownload

First Phone Sample ContractDownload

First Phone ChartsDownload

First Phone Cheat SheetDownload
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