There are so many difficult decisions to make as a parent, and in many respects there are more and more of these every year, as technology changes and the world continues on its strange journey. These days, most children are going to have their own cell phone at some point or another, but as their parent it is up to you to decide when this time should actually come. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the considerations that should come into play here, and try to answer that question: exactly when should a child have a phone of their own?
Speak With Your Child
One of the most important things here is to remember to speak openly with your child about phones. You need to make sure that they are clear on the potential dangers, as well as the benefits, of having a phone. When they are seeing other people with phones all the time they might wonder why they don’t have one yet, so it is best to be honest and upfront with them. This way, you can work together to see what sort of age might be appropriate for them to have their own device.
Parental Control
When you do give your child their first phone, you will need to make sure that you are thinking about safety and security. There are many ways to ensure this, and one of the most effective is to use a service that allows you to have ultimate control over their phone. You may want to set parental control on the cell phone, so that you can see what your child is up to and also block certain material, as well as being able to see where they are at all times. Used in this way, their phone can be a safe tool.
Responsibility
One sure sign that it might be time to allow your child to have their own cell phone is that they are showing a good deal of responsibility. If they generally appear to be responsible, that could be a clear sign that they are ready to have their own phone. In a sense, this is like earning their right to have the phone, and it’s something you should make clear about if you want them to do it right. If you approach it this way, you are getting the best of both worlds.
The Final Decision
Ultimately, the final decision is yours to make, so you should make sure that you are doing it as and when you think it is right to do. You shouldn’t let your child dictate on this, but rather should aim to keep your ground as their parent. If you can do this, you will find that they are much more likely to appreciate it when it is actually time for them to have a phone – and they will be more likely to use it responsibly too, which is the most important thing of all in all this.