Tess Daly's controversial parenting decision and strict rule she has for kids

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess Daly has offered a rare insight into the upbringing of her two daughters.

Alongside her TV star husband Vernon Kay, the couple share Phoebe Elizabeth, 20 and Amber, 15, and they implemented strict rules to keep the youngsters safe online.

As well as educating their children about the internet, Tess revealed she also controlled the usage of phones in her house.

The 55-year-old disclosed that neither of her children was allowed to have phones until they were teenagers and that she does not allow phones at the dinner table under any circumstances.

“I think kids are a lot more pragmatic about social media than we ever were – it’s sort of second nature. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need guidelines.

Tess and Vernon share two daughters (Image: Instagram)

Tess continued: “We’ve always been big on, ‘You will never communicate with somebody you haven’t physically met, or who isn’t a friend of yours.’

“As a parent, it’s about keeping your child safe – and that is my number one priority for my kids.”

She went on to reveal that her daughters were only allowed to bring their phones to their bedrooms once they turned 15.

Even then, they had cut-off times for putting them away. For her youngest, Amber, that means 10pm on a school night.

Tess and Vernon have been married for 21 years (Image: Instagram)

Speaking to Hello! Magazine, Tess said: “We’ve always limited screen time, but it becomes increasingly challenging when your child socialises online a lot.

“My daughter wasn’t allowed Snapchat until she was 13. If she didn’t have it, she literally would not be able to communicate with her peers – because that’s how they arrange their social plans.”

The star added: “Phoebe, our eldest, was private on Instagram until she was 17 or 18.

“We believe children should be young adults before they become public on social media, because before that, they’re still kids.”