Kylie Kelce's 'kitchen phone' parenting rule sparks online debate

USA Today

a day ago

Kylie Kelce is turning heads once again with her parenting techniques.
In a recent episode of her podcast, "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce," Kelce discusses her plans for keeping cellphones under wraps when her children come of age to use them. Kelce, a former hockey team coach who launched the top-ranking podcast last year, shares four daughters ranging between the ages of 4 months and 4 years old with NFL star Jason Kelce.
"I actually believe that we will be doing what I'm calling the 'kitchen phone,'" Kelce told her guest, actress Kelly Ripa, in the podcast episode. "In other words, there will be one or two extra cellphones, besides mom and dad's cellphones, that they will 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 said these communal cellphones will only be allowed on the first floor of the house, specifically in the kitchen.
"You can still have your friends have that phone number. You can still use the phone on the first floor of the house, but they live in the kitchen, so they're not going upstairs. They're not going in the basement. They're going nowhere but the first floor."
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Some parents express skepticism about the 'kitchen phone'
Listeners of the podcast and parents who have just heard Kelce's recent clip online are sharing their thoughts on this type of tech usage.
Some parents and social media users are skeptical of how realistic Kelce's plan is, especially as the children are years away from wanting their own smartphone.
"Sounds great, in theory," one TikTok user commented on a video clip of Kelce explaining the "kitchen phone." "Real world? We'll see what the next few years will bring."
Another commented, "I love when toddler moms try to tell teen moms what works. Girl, you ain't ready."
Some parents expressed concerns that children might sneak around with other phones if they are restricted at home.
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"Be careful with them creating secret profiles using their friends' phones when you aren't around," a TikTok user commented. "It's almost best you know about their accounts so you can have the password. There really is no winning. They will figure out a way to get social media."
Others compared Kelce's concept to a traditional landline or home computer, both of which were available in communal areas of the home.
"Sounds like my childhood," another TikToker said. "Our phone hung on the kitchen wall with a 6-foot cord attaching to (the) mouthpiece."
Others say cellphone strategy works
But not all parents and social media users are against the Kelce's concept of a "kitchen phone."
"We did Kylie's exact method and are doing it for our younger kiddos," on TikTok user commented on the podcast clip. "Works amazing."
Another TikToker said: "My teenage cousins have no social media and just have regular phones for calling or texting. They're perfectly fine and happy."
Others shared alternatives, recommending teen-friendly devices like Gabb Phone and Bark. These smartphones can be monitored more closely by adults than regular phones and prohibit access to social media, internet browsing and app stores. The simplicity of these phones is similar to a flip phone, intended solely for communication.
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Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [e-mail].