Is my child ready for a cell phone?
Like many parents,
you may be wondering if your child is cell phone ready.
As you can see, there
are pros and cons.
When it makes sense
Many parents cite
safety as the main reason they give their child a mobile phone. They want to be
able to contact their child when they need it. They also want to give their
child the confidence to be able to reach them when they need them.
This is especially
true if your child is left home alone after school or comes home alone.
Children living in
two families often receive cell phones at an earlier age. Here's how they can
contact the other parent.
If the cell phone is
indeed intended to be accessible to their parents or children in common care,
who may not know which parental home they should go to, this is somewhat true.
Weigh the risks
If your child has a
smartphone, they have access to websites that may be inappropriate. He may see
scenes of violence, death, or sex.
Many children have
fantasies about things they don't understand.
There is also the
problem of lack of sleep.
Kids with smartphones
tend to stay up late playing games and texting friends.
Mobile phones also
pose a threat of cyberbullying.
Before, once inside,
you were safe, but with mobile phones and social networks, no one is ever
immune [from bullying].
Children with mobile
phones can also become socially isolated. Too many text messages and social
media means less time with friends in person.
There are other
reasons not to give children cell phones until they are ready.
Some parents are so
overprotective of their children that they want to constantly interact with
them without thinking about the potential dangers. Young children with mobile
phones can transmit information to the wrong people.
There is also a risk
of developing addiction.
If you give your
children a mobile phone at a very early age, you will receive calls in the
future for all sorts of things.
Of course, there are
costs to consider as well. After purchasing the phone, you will need a separate
data plan or add a child to yours. The amount of data used will affect your
bill.
Making the decision
Your child is cell
phone ready when they can sit with you to make recommendations on how to use
it.
If they do not want
to be on this list, then they are not ready.
According to her, in
most children this occurs at the age of 12-13 years. The decision should be
made by the parents, not by the grandparents or well-meaning friends who give
your child a phone.
Ask yourself if your
child has sound judgment and experience in making good decisions. If he is
immature or prone to making bad decisions, he is not ready.
When they see
something scary, do they handle it well? Do they come to you when something is
wrong? Do they have good intuition?
Consider why your
child wants a cell phone. Does he want to chat with his friends? Or spend time
on Facebook? Does he want a phone because his older brother or cousin has one?
Examine your child's
cognitive abilities so they can use their cell phone properly, and more
importantly, are they emotionally ready for it?
Assess your child's
maturity. Did he show responsibility in other ways, such as finishing his
homework on time and cleaning his room?
These children may be
able to use a mobile phone responsibly at 8, 9 or 10 years old. Some are not
ready until high school. If a child has ADHD or lacks time management skills, a
cell phone can cause problems.
Tips for safe and responsible cell phone use
- Don’t allow your child to load video games and apps.
- Limit your child to a basic phone rather than a smartphone.
- Be a good role model with your own phone.
- Set screen time limits.
- Tell your child you’ll monitor their cell phone use closely.
- Know their passwords.
- Take away your child’s cell phone at least an hour before bedtime and charge it outside the bedroom.
- Talk to your kids about the dangers of sexting.