When is a good time to introduce a child to the internet? When should they have a phone? It seems like these kids are getting hooked on something digital by the moment they come out of the womb. A lot of parents are quick to chuck a tablet in their faces as a distraction. If that's the new reality, when would it be normal for them to have a phone, access the vast internet? For Simon Cowell, he's still doing it the ol' fashioned way. Now that his son is getting older, he knows it's only a matter of time.
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Recently, the former American Idol judge spoke on ITV's This Morning (captured by PEOPLE). There, he opens up about one of his big fears. His son Eric is 11 years old now and is aware that eventually he can't be sheltered forever. However, Simon still remains afraid of the prospect of his boy having a phone and "having access to anything."
Simon Cowell Opens Up About One of His Biggest Parenting Fears
"I'm very worried, Jeff, about how much kids can see at a certain age," Cowell admits. "I grew up ... learning things at the right time, the right age, etcetera, etcetera. I just would be petrified of him having access to anything that would really worry me."
It's a valid concern to have, with all the wild possibilities you could search for online. However, Simon also hopes that his teachings could steer his boy Eric in the right direction. With the right principles, he could assure that Eric is prepared for the world. Elsewhere in the conversation, Cowell shares one of the biggest lessons he learned from his parents and how he could pass it down to his child.
"My mom used to say, manners make the man, and my dad was very good about respecting other people, and I'm trying to do the same thing with him," Simon explains. "Don't make it overcomplicated, you know? Find your path, be happy, [and] be respectful to other people."
