Chip And Joanna Gaines Find ‘Brilliant’ Way To Curb Childrens’ Cell Phone Use

Chip and Joanna Gaines are well established DIY legends. But, first and foremost they are the parents of five children. They have a cell phone rule for their kids that is so “brilliant” that other parents might want to follow suit.

Kids and adults alike have become dependent on or even addicted to cell phones.

We are constantly checking our cell phones for texts and emails.

When we get a notification, we feel an instant response is needed. But, it’s not – especially when we are with family.

Focus On Family

Family is an important focus for Chip and Joanna Gaines.

It was so important that they took a break from their hit show to focus on family and regroup.

During that time, they decided whether they wanted to continue in show business or not. They did continue, but on their own terms.

This Christian couple has been married for 18 years. They are fully committed to each other and even said this week their marriage has succeeded because divorce was never an option.

With five kids, they understand that their home life comes first. Their job as parents is to raise their children right. Their children range in age from the oldest, 16, to the youngest, 3: Drake, 16, Ella, 14, Duke, 13, Emmie, 11, and Crew, 3.

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The couple’s Magnolia Network launched this week, giving them more control over how they spend their time.

In addition to be able to maximize family time during their schedules, the Gaines’s cell phone rule at home was adjusted.

Cell Phone Station

Joanna noticed how reactive their son was to his cell phone. He was constantly checking it. As a mom, she knows this is unhealthy especially for teens. She 

“We have this little station where everyone charges their phones,” the mother of five said. “And finally we decided we don’t like how our kids — they almost look like robots, I mean all of us, when it buzzes you gotta check it, and when they’re reading they’re checking it.”

“It just became a house rule, when you’re at home, that all the phones go in one spot, so if you want to check a text, if you want to check an email, you go to that spot, but it’s not on your bodies,” she continued. “So it’s like ‘no phones on body,’ that’s the rule at home.”

RELATED: Chip Gaines Admits He Struggled With Fame During Run Of “Fixer Upper”

Hoda Kotb called this cell phone rule “brilliant.”

It’s certainly something that other families can easily institute. 

You can watch The Today Show’s interview with Chip and Joanna Gaines about the Magnolia Network and parenting tips in the video below.