‘My kids won’t get phones until they’re 14... we are just going to say ‘no’’

Model and health coach, Rachael Finch is popular on social media, but her kids won't have accounts until they are teens.

Rachael Finch does not want her two children to have a phone until they are at least 14, and her plan to stop the pressure and pestering is to just say ‘no’.

The model and health coach, who has two kids, Violet 9 and Dom 6, has opened up about the difficult subject of kids and phones, revealing she wants to hold off allowing social media apps until well into the teen years.

Despite her running businesses online, and creating content for 321,000 Instagram followers - she is positive it is not a place for her children.

“When young people are on social media, it’s a very fragile expedition,” she says on the new podcast, Dr Golly and the Experts.

“You’re influenced so easily as a kid, communication has completely evolved, it's instant, it's fast-paced… I feel like there’s no deep and meaningful, soulful connection any more.

“We have to keep a bird’s eye view on everything they’re doing, what apps they’re looking at.”

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Rachael Finch with husband Michael Miziner and their kids Dom and Violet. Source: Instagram.

"We don’t mind them being the odd one out"

During the chat with host pediatrician Dr Daniel Golshevsky, the Sydney mum said she plans to keep Dom and Violet off social media “until at least they’re teenagers”, but knows she will be in the minority.

“This is the only predicament I feel I’m going to be confused coming up against. Because (my husband) Michael and I have both said, at least 14, they will not have a phone,” she says.

“Dom is in Year one, and already they’ve set him up with a school email address. I’m thinking 'what is going on?'”

"If their friends have all got a phone, or their friends are all on Instagram. Well do you want your child to be the only one left out?”

When Dr Golly asks how she will deal with a child saying they are the only ones without a phone, she says they can miss out.

“It might be something that a lot of people disagree with. But we say no. We don’t mind them being the odd one out,” she says.

“We don’t just say no and let them walk away, we are constantly explaining to them...  the dangers of it, we’re explaining why you don’t need it, we’re explaining how you can communicate with us without that app.

“I allow (Violet) to watch Kids YouTube, and I am watching over that, but they’ve got invalid reasons (for wanting social media). 

RELATED: Dumb things kids do and Rachael Finch on the juggle

Dr Daniel Golshevsky with Rachael Finch who got emotional during the chat. Source: LiSTNR Podcasts.

"I'm mindful, when with the kids"

Finch also adds that she explains to her kids that her Instagram use is for work, not "to scroll through random pictures and videos and mindless content that isn’t really benefiting me in some way”.

"When I’m with the kids, and I’m purposefully, with the kids and being mindful with them, I will not have my phone out," she says. 

“I manage the time accordingly and I’m really careful about how I structure the time we spend together, and the time I’m on my phone.”

RELATED: The best phones for kids to keep them connected

Rachael Finch doesn't mind if her kids are the odd one out. Source: Instagram.

"No one should be able to make a comment on your life"

Elsewhere in the chat Finch opened up the negative parts of social media, which included nasty trolling towards her and her family.

She revealed the criticism she endured recently, including horrible comments about what she feeds her kids.

"Say what you want about me. But when it comes to the kids and my parenting, there's just that real delicate spot that it hits," she told Dr Golly. 

"I've heard it all from … 'Your kids are too thin'. 'You're underfeeding them'. 'What you're feeding them is a form of child abuse'. 'She'll grow up with an eating disorder, and she will ultimately come to hate you'. 'They'll end up binging when they're older'. All of these things."

She urged people to "think twice" before they speak or type and to spread kindness instead.

Finch says she enjoys the “beautiful community” she has created over two decades, that’s why she continues to post.

"And at the end of the day, no one should be able to make a comment or judgement on your life because you know your children best," she says. 

"They only see a snippet of what you choose to put up on Instagram or Facebook, and you should always remember that."

Originally published as ‘My kids won’t get phones until they’re 14... we are just going to say ‘no’’