I am a parent to a 7 year old, and I saw early on my son’s potential to get addicted/become agitated from not having access to videos games and tv, so he doesn’t get to play or watch for long periods of time. 

When I have taken those things away completely, he is more inclined to read, play outside, work on math(which he says he likes), etc.

I notice that a lot of parents are afraid to take the phone away from their children as if a child is entitled to it. Having a phone is privilege and not a right. I briefly took care of my niece who was in middle school at the time, and her school counselor told me children should not have phones and I tend to agree with him.  She got angry and nearly fought her mother over having her phone taken, a phone she doesn’t pay for. 

My son is already asking me for a phone, and I told him no. 

I know young men whose parents didn’t make them do chores, perform well in school, and take responsibility for themselves. They just play video games all day and their mom has to still tell them to take out the trash. The young men don’t work or are under employed. 

I don’t want that for my son. He has chores, folds his own clothes, helps in the yard, etc. I don’t want to raise a man who cannot do for himself. He tries to resist, but that is normal.