With Christmas just a couple of weeks away, parents are busily looking for gifts for their children. One such gift is a smartphone. Parents, though, are often hesitant about purchasing cellphones for their children for a myriad of reasons, the most important being its negative effects on social skills. While this is a genuine concern to have, smartphones can be great tools in assisting your children with the many challenges they may face. Here are some suggestions to help you decide whether to purchase one, and if you do decide to purchase one, to determine what parameters should be established for its use:
1. What age should your children be? Generally, around the age of 14 is a good, practical age, but it all depends on the maturity levels of your children. Are they responsible? Cell phones are costly and children are prone to lose things. Will your children abide by rules that you set for their use?
2. How will it be purchased? Many parents require that their children do chores at home to earn at least a portion of the purchase price of a cell phone. That builds in the child the importance of earning money and using money wisely. If the cell phone device itself is a gift, consider having your child earn the money to pay for the monthly charges.
3. What rules will be established for its use? The rules are completely up to you and what you, as the parent, determine is most important. Use of the device during family times and meal times should be off limits, though. Will you require a shut off time at night? If so, what hour? What about your free access to the phone to monitor goings on? That should be made clear to your child from before the phone is purchased.
As with everything else, you cannot use the “do as I say, not as I do” method. Children learn best from observing their parents and if they see you contradicting yourself, it will only confuse them and cause them to rebel. If you tell them to put their phones away during meals, but you are busy calling and texting during dinner times, there will be problems.
4. What type of services or apps should be on a cellphone? You will need to monitor your children’s cell phones closely to ensure that they do not download any unacceptable apps. In fact, one rule of use should be that they do not download anything without your knowledge and permission. Be vigilant in monitoring their phones as there are a huge variety of apps out there.
One highly recommended service for a cell phone is called location services. It is very helpful because you can keep track of your children’s locations. There are various apps that provide these services at the app store, but parents can include family locator services in their cell phone plan (usually for an additional price) as well. The already embedded GPS in cellphones is very beneficial in the event that your children are at unfamiliar areas and need to find their way to a specific destination or back home.
Getting their first cell phone can be an exciting time for your children. Parents should, however, spend time preparing and planning for one.