Mom Refuses to Give Kids Phones, Comes Up With Genius Way to Stay in Touch

A video of a mom using an “old-school” method to communicate with her kids has the internet talking.

Lauren Porter, 33, has a firm “no phones” policy for her kids, who are 9 and 11 years old, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on all the fun.

On TikTok, the mom of four posted a video of herself speaking into a walkie-talkie, writing in the text overlay, “When you refuse to give your kids cell phones but they want to ride their bikes to the park down the road so you harass them on the walkie talkie every 5 minutes.”

When asked what TikTok thought of her “old-school” approach, Porter told Newsweek: “I think there is a huge benefit to waiting as long as possible to give kids a cellphone.

“The reaction has been mostly positive, with people saying the idea is nostalgic and gives them Stranger Things vibes.”

In the video, Porter tells her children, “You guys need to be home in about 10 minutes.” After confirming the time limit, a child on the other end replies, “OK, over.”

TikTok users expressed their support for the communication method in the video’s comments section, with many in favor of using walkie-talkies over cellphones.

“All the kids on our street do this! Analog is amazing!” one user wrote.

“This is SO CUTE! I wanted a walkie talkie so bad when I was a kid,” another added. “I would’ve loved this.”

“This is SUCH a good option for kids when they aren’t quite old enough for the responsibility of a cell phone but you don’t want them to just be off without a way to communicate!” a commenter said.

Another commended the behavior of Porter’s child, writing, “The fact that he didn’t argue or anything, just ‘okay, over.'”

Other users were keen to know more about the device, with one asking: “Are those long range? What’s the battery life? How far is the park? I have so many questions.”

But some commenters weren’t convinced by Porter’s approach. One user said her parents gave her a walkie-talkie as a child and that “it was the most embarrassing thing ever.”

Another shared a similar experience, “It’s funny but I HATED my dad giving me a walkie talkie when I was younger.” She added, “Looking back as an adult, I’m grateful I had it.”

Deciding when to give your child a cellphone can be difficult. While some parents worry a cellphone may be too much responsibility for a child, others see giving their child a phone as a way of teaching trust. At the end of the day, as Porter shows, parents must decide what works best for them and their children.

If you have a family dilemma, let us know via li**@******ek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.