Parents Are Hiring 'Phone Valets' to Take Away Teens' Phones at Parties — And Kids Love It

Parents searching for new ways to reduce teenagers' screen time are embracing an unlikely party trend: hiring 'phone valets' to collect guests' smartphones at the door.

The idea sounds extreme at first. Instead of allowing teenagers to carry their phones throughout an event, guests check them in with a dedicated attendant, much like leaving a coat at a cloakroom. But according to the founder of one growing business offering the service, many teenagers are not only accepting the idea but actively asking for it.

The trend reflects growing concerns among parents about the effect smartphones are having on face-to-face interaction. Rather than spending parties scrolling through social media, taking endless photos or checking notifications, teenagers are spending more time talking, dancing and participating in activities.

Why Teenagers Are Embracing Phone-Free Parties

Speaking to Business Insider, Miami entrepreneur Karen Silberman shares The Phone Valet was created after she noticed a recurring pattern at children's celebrations.

While attending bar and bat mitzvahs with her son, Silberman realised many teenagers remained glued to their phones throughout the evening. Even brief pauses between activities often sent guests straight back to their screens.

Silberman went on to say that the turning point came during her own son's bar mitzvah, when she asked arriving guests to hand over their phones. To her surprise, most did so without complaint.

Since launching the business, she says some teenagers have gone a step further by quietly asking their parents to book the service for parties because they enjoy spending time with friends without the distraction of constant notifications or the pressure to document every moment online.

How a Phone Valet Works

Rather than confiscating devices, the service is designed to make phone-free events feel organised rather than punitive.

Guests check their phones into a staffed collection point when they arrive and can retrieve them whenever they choose during the event. To reassure parents, The Phone Valet provides an emergency contact number that families can use if they need to reach their children. Hosts can also offer digital or disposable cameras so guests can still take photographs without relying on smartphones.

Silberman says the service has expanded beyond bar and bat mitzvahs to include school events, weddings and celebrity parties, with plans to grow into additional markets.

Part of a Bigger Shift Away From Constant Connectivity

The popularity of phone valets comes as schools, parents and policymakers continue debating children's smartphone use.

Across the US and UK, schools have introduced stricter restrictions on mobile phones in classrooms, while concerns over excessive screen time, social media use and teenage mental health have intensified. Many young people have also begun speaking openly about 'screen fatigue' and the pressure of always being connected.

Phone valet services tap into that wider conversation by creating temporary phone-free spaces where teenagers can focus on the people around them rather than their screens.

For parents, the appeal is straightforward: instead of repeatedly asking children to put their phones away, they can hand responsibility to a neutral third party. For many teenagers, however, the biggest surprise may be discovering they enjoy the break just as much as their parents do.