ROD STEWART bans his kids from using their cell phones when they visit him for dinner - because it kills the conversation.

The Maggie May rocker splits his time between Britain and the U.S. with wife Penny Lancaster and their son Alastair, and is regularly visited by his other children - Kimberly, Sean, Ruby, Renee and Liam - from previous relationships.

But he’s been forced to tell them all to stop using their phones when they visit, as it makes them too anti-social.

Stewart says, “I get a bowl and tell them to put their phones in when we sit down for dinner. They kill polite conversation over dinner when everyone is hunched over, staring at their lap sending texts or whatever during a meal. It’s incredibly rude.”

The 64 year old has even learned how to send messages on his phone in order to stay in touch with his technology-obsessed offspring.

He adds, “I have started learning to text. I decided it was the best way to stay in touch with everyone because it’s the best way to get hold of all the kids. Just not during dinner.”