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Getting a cellphone for a child can significantly help their academic and social development. However, parents need to think before they choose this gift. A cell phone can also be problematic if it is not used wisely by the child or their parents. Children can be exposed to many risks when they have a cell phone, and parents need to be aware of these risks to make informed decisions. Things to consider before getting a cellphone for your young one have been listed below.
1. The Personal Safety Of Your Child
Cell phones can give children access to a world of information, including pictures and videos that may not be suitable for younger children. A young child exposed to inappropriate content will risk psychological damage, and parents must be aware of all the risks to make informed decisions.
Parents need to remember that others easily influence their children, so make sure your child stays away from people they should not associate with. Also, unless you have the phone on a password-protected lock, which is the most secure option available in today’s smartphones, anyone with access to your phone can see whatever its owner wants them to see.
2. Your Child’s Age
Unless the cellphone you plan to purchase is a smartphone and comes with a parent-to-parent feature, your child will have access to their phone anytime, anywhere. Smartphones today are very sophisticated as they can record videos, take pictures, listen to music, and surf the web.
These features can compel young kids, bringing out their creativity and imagination. However, these features can also be dangerous, especially if the child can access them even when sleeping or in the restroom. Young children may not understand how the device works and what it can do.
3. Internet Safety
Children need to be taught some internet rules before using their devices. This is because children are interested and can go a long way in accessing deceiving information on the web when they use their devices.
It is therefore essential to make them familiar with sites that pertain to health, hygiene, and safety, unlike Facebook, where they can get much more information on behavioral disorders, which children may not know how to deal with or know how dangerous these disorders can be. Parents should also install parental control software on their children’s phones to ensure they do not get addicted to the internet.
4. The Potential Consequences
Problems can arise when children send texts, create pictures, play games, or download apps on their smartphones. Most parents do not know that by allowing their children access to the internet, they are exposing them to computer viruses which can be harmful and can enable others to access the child’s phone remotely without them knowing about it. Phones like iPhones are considered secure devices, but hackers can easily break their security.
It’s also important to note that children and teens are prone to breaking their phones easily. If such occurs, especially for iPhone phones, you can head to an iPhone repair in Houston if you are around the area.
5. Enforcing Rules At Home
Children need to be taught the Internet safety rules before receiving their smartphones. Parents must ensure they do not give their children access to their devices at all times in case they are unaware of the potential dangers. Parents should monitor their children when using their phones and limit them so that there will be no access by other people, including strangers around them. This will solve many problems as a parent can remain in control of their child’s device and its usage.
6. Being Responsible
Kids need to understand the importance of being responsible when they use their devices. They should not talk over the phone for more than two hours per day and should not use their device in public places.
This is because if they are in a public place, there is no way of knowing what kind of information or behavior they could get involved in. Children must also be aware of proper phone etiquette, especially in public places and others. Parents should give their children a phone when they are mature enough to use it wisely.
Closing Thoughts
To conclude, getting a cellphone for your child can be a great help, especially in their academic and social development. However, parents must also think twice before allowing their child to use the device. Things that need to be considered before getting your child a cell phone have been listed above, and it is up to the parent to ensure that their child does not access inappropriate content or get involved in any mishaps while using the device.
