Kelly Ripa shares parenting advice: 'Hold off as long as possible' on giving kids a phone
Kelly Ripa recently appeared on Jerry O'Connell's new show, "Jerry O," and dished some parenting advice.
Ripa, 48, who is a mother to three children, Michael, 22, Lola, 18, and Joaquin, 16, told O'Connell that she believes it's best to hold off for as long as you can before giving your child a cell phone.
"The phone becomes the parent -- the best friend, the social engagement," she explained to the talk show host. "Now ... everybody's self-worth is wrapped up in the 'gram and Snapchat..."
"You just have to monitor it -- I would say hold off as long as possible," she added.
She also playfully warned O'Connell, who has 10-year-old twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie, with his wife, actress Rebecca Romijn, of some of the tactics kids might use to convince their parents to let them have a phone.
"Don't let your kids tell you that it's 'in case of an emergency,'" she said. "It has hit the fan in our house, and I cannot reach my child on that phone that is constantly in her hand."
Last month, Ripa shared which of her children was the easiest to handle during an episode of "Live With Kelly and Ryan."
"I hope my other kids are not watching this but they're not. Here's what: third kid is the best kid," she said.
"They sleep, they do their homework, they pick their crap up off the floor. ... They just know they've got to give you a break," she added.
