You’ll find most kids craving for all the things that they see with adults and when it comes to owning mobile phones, smart phones are their first choice. But is it really sensible to let kids use smart phones? Well, it isn’t senseless either but security concerns are the only headaches that make you think twice before you buy one of those technically advanced mobile phones for your child.
Security is need. Security is want. Security is crucial. It just can’t be overlooked.
But can your child take care of it?
Yup, your child can if you are supervising. Nope, if you ain’t.
Now, your child’s smart phone safety is a joint effort from your side as well as from your child’s side, your child won’t be taking care of his safety alone and would rather be negligent but if you instruct your child properly, the scene becomes different.
Make out how much technology your child is really capable of handling. There is no set rule for making this out as different children have different judgement and different capabilities yet from safety point of view, it is better not to give a personal phone to a child below the age of 11. And if the child is below 13, don’t give a phone that supports camera and offers Internet access. And no limitless access to texting and internet usage if below 15 or 16.
Now what if you have already bought a smart phone to your kid?
Nothing to be scared about it. Smart phones are really very common with kids. In fact, kids love them more than the adults. A survey found that 23% of kids from the age group 12 to 17 and about 31% of kids from the age group of 14 to 17 own personal smart phones. Your kid can be one of those 23% or 31% of kids!
Does that mean your kid is unsafe?
No, it doesn’t.
Should you be worried about your kid all the time?
No, you shouldn’t at all.
First of all, smart phones have its own parental control options using which you can easily restrict various available features on your child’s phone and ensure your child’s security. This will also help you discipline your child’s cell phone usage.
Second, teens are addicted to texting and chatting. In fact, according to a survey number of text messages sent by teens on an average was 50 in 2009 which increased to 60 in 2011. So it is always better to get a pre paid plan with restricted text messages for your child instead of buying a post paid plan with limit less access to texting, Internet and other forms of digital communication. This is a simple and reliable way of keeping your child safe.
Third, set some cell phone usage rules for your child like no cell phone usage before completing homework, no making calls while dinning, no texting or internet usage late at night say after 9 o’clock, etc.
Fourth and final, monitor your child’s cell phone, closely watch all the cell phone activities of your child. And the best way to monitor your child’s cell phone and all the activities taking place on it is to install a parental control on your child’s smart phone. This will give you total access to your child’s smart phone. There are several child cell phone monitoring applications available on the market that are compatible with all kinds of smart phones and help you keep your child safe by letting you block unwanted numbers, websites, applications; filter inappropriate content; restrict usage time and cell phone activities and so on.
