Rabbi Urges Parents to Re-Establish Smartphone Limits for Children

Rabbi Yonah Goodman is calling on parents to reassert boundaries around smartphone use for their children, emphasizing the need for clear rules and a return to traditional activities like reading and human interaction. In a new video series addressing modern education, Rabbi Goodman expressed concern that the focus on limiting children's screen time has waned despite years of efforts by educators and religious leaders.

He noted that the widespread adoption of smartphones by children raises ongoing questions about daily usage limits and the risk of excessive screen engagement. "I feel we have forgotten a bit, we have let ourselves be made to forget," he stated, warning against screen use becoming an unexamined habit. As an example, he recounted seeing children scrolling on their phones during prayer services while on vacation, describing it as a pervasive reality.

Rabbi Goodman urged parents not to grow weary of setting limits, even after years of smartphones being part of family life. He cautioned against complacency, such as viewing a child engrossed in a screen as a convenient way to avoid disturbance. He suggested that children can find other ways to occupy themselves, humorously referencing the "amazing new invention" called a book with pages and lines.

With the new year beginning, Rabbi Goodman proposed using the occasion to re-establish clear guidelines. He recommended setting upfront agreements with children regarding daily usage hours, bedtime, and device storage, particularly advising against keeping phones in the bedroom or near a child's head during sleep. He believes such rules demonstrate parental commitment to education and hopes that adapted education will lead children to discover books and the richness of life beyond screens.