Every kid, these days, will want a cell phone at some point. Why wouldn’t they? They have seen their parents navigating social media and other platforms for hours during leisure. They will also want this luxury, most of the time unknowingly about its benefits and drawbacks. In no way, you can tell your kids to stay away from cell phones as the entire society is embracing this technology for various purposes. The more you avoid it, the more it will bite back. Let us find out how you can manage it and design an excellent solution to this problem. Here is how you can decide when and what to buy your kid in this case.
Ask these questions to yourself and find out whether this is the right time to buy a cell phone to your kid.
- Why does he/she need a cell phone?
Cell phones are used to communicate. It is a mandatory part of a child’s safety plan these days. Find out the parameters where a cell phone fits well. For instance, if your kid spends time alone at home when you are working, he/she will need a cell phone for sure. If your kid uses public transport to commute, find the safest phones for young kids and maintain the safety protocols.
- Does your kid know and follows cell phone usage protocols mandated at home and at school?
There are certain rules and regulations that a school dictates and every pupil has to follow. His is done to maintain the sanctity of the school environment. If your kid is obedient enough and is well aware of the situation, you can think of giving him/her a cell phone.
- What are the concerns parents and teachers have?
A kid must know the concerns parents and teachers have regarding cell phone use. Find out your kid’s awareness regarding these concerns such as social media usage, inappropriate application usage or handling calls or messages from strangers. If he/she is not ready with it, educate him/her before gifting a cell phone.
- Where can you use cell phones and where not?
Cell phones cannot be used everywhere and a kid should know it. It should be a communication device not a barrier in the communication channel for others. Teach your child the places and incidents where the safest phones for young kids cannot be used. For instance, cell phones should not be used when someone is talking to you. Describe how rude it is to use headphones during a conversation. Describe it is a punishable offence to take photos in prohibited places.
How a parent should behave?
Once you have found the safest phones for kids/teens, it is time to become more tech-savvy and embrace technology. Use control measures and fixate on timings regarding use of the cell phones. Check what your kid is doing with the phones in the spare time. Do not do anything rude in front of the others when your kid is not responding to any conversation. Teach him/her gently what is wrong while using a cell phone and make it right.
