Kylie Kelce explains the ‘kitchen phone' rule her 4 daughters will follow

Miami Herald

03-08-2025

In today's world, cell phones have become a major focal point in many of our lives.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is 'no single perfect age to get a phone,' adding that 'giving your child their first smartphone is a decision that requires some planning and conversation.'
'Smartphones provide access to greater independence and communication with friends, but also to a wide range of apps and websites that aren't intended for children and teens,' the American Academy of Pediatrics notes, leaving parents with a heavy burden on their shoulders.
While one survey recommends children between 12 to 13 years old receive their first phone, in a conversation with Kelly Ripa, Kylie Kelce shared the rule her four daughters will follow as they begin to gain their independence.
During the July 31 episode of her 'Not Gonna Lie' podcast, Kelce explained that her household will have one or two 'kitchen phones.'
'I actually believe that we will be doing what I'm calling the 'kitchen phone,'' Kelce explained to Ripa.
'In other words, there will be one or two extra cell phones, besides mom and dad's cell phones that they can take with them if they have somewhere they're going, where there will not be a parent, or if they will need to get a hold of us, or if they're at something sports related,' Kelce continued.
However, if their kids aren't off on their own, Kelce says the cell phones are then only used on 'the first floor of the house.'
Kelce said her daughters will still be allowed to share phone numbers with their friends and communicate with them via the communal cell phones but they can only use the phones on the first floor of the house and when they are not in use, 'they live in the kitchen.'
'So they're not gonna go upstairs, they're not going to the basement. They're going nowhere but the first floor communal living space,' Kelce shared, as Ripa approved of the approach.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also suggests that 'if you don't think your child is ready for a smartphone, but do want them to be able to communicate with you and their friends, see if your phone carrier has a flip phone model that allows call and texts only.'
And if you do decide to allow your child to have a smartphone that it is important to set rules and expectations regarding the cell phone, while also reminding kids that a smartphone 'does not equal getting social media.'