The ‘Today’ host is mom to daughter Vale, 11, and son Charley, 8
NEED TO KNOW
- Today host Savannah Guthrie says her kids don’t have cell phones or social media yet
- Guthrie, 53, is mom to daughter Vale, 11, and son Charley, 8
- She shared her thoughts while speaking to E! News at the World Mental Health Day Gala in New York City on Oct. 9
Savannah Guthrie says you won’t find her kids using cell phones — at least not any time soon.
The Today show host — who shares daughter Vale, 11, and son Charley, 8, with husband Michael Feldman, opened up about her parenting policy regarding phones and social media while speaking to E! News at the World Mental Health Day Gala hosted by Project Healthy Minds in New York City on Oct. 9.
“My conversation about social media is, ‘No,’ ” Guthrie, 53, told the outlet, adding, “And my conversation about a smartphone is, ‘No.’ “
She continued, “My kids are 8 and 11 — of course they want all of that stuff. And I just want to hold off as long as possible for that.”
Guthrie previously opened up about her approach to parenting and technology, sharing that she gave Vale access to an iCloud account — but made her sign a contract before using it — while talking to Jenna Bush Hager on an August episode of Today with Jenna & Friends.
“I actually drafted a contract for her to sign,” the journalist and former attorney said, adding that one of the provisions included not putting anything into writing that she “wouldn’t want grandma and grandpa to see.”
While speaking to E! News at the gala, Guthrie went on to share that she encourages open communication within her household, and urges her kids to share their feelings.
“We do talk about our feelings, you know?” she explained. “I say, ‘All feelings are welcome — all behavior is not, but all feelings are welcome. You can always share how you’re feeling in this house.’ ”
She also said that she often tells her kids that negative feelings are like the weather — they’re not permanent.
“I tell my kids all the time, ‘You know, no matter how you’re feeling — these moods come and you feel sad. It’s like a weather system coming in, it’s like a storm, and it takes up the whole sky. But weather systems come in and they go,’ ” she explained.
“And I think that’s a reminder for anyone who’s struggling right now with mental health issues,” she added.
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Guthrie shared some of her own tips for maintaining a healthy and positive daily attitude at last year’s gala.
“How you start your day really matters,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “I mean, I read somewhere it was like, make your first choice of the day a really good choice. So I try to drink a glass of water. Start with the prayer. I actually, you’re going to be shocked by this. Are you ready? I’ve started setting my alarm even earlier to do just a little bit of exercise.”
She went on to explain that her morning fitness routine was less about keeping up appearances and more about nurturing a positive state of mind.
