Deciding to let your child have their first smartphone is a big step and not one any parent takes lightly.
While it gives you the benefit of being able to contact them wherever they are and vice versa, it also opens them up to all kinds of dangers. Concerns over what your kids are doing with their phones, who they are connecting with, what kind of apps they are using, and what kind of content they are viewing online without parental supervision can be a major worry. The amount of time they are spending on their phones is also a very real concern. However, there are ways in which you can ensure they are using their smartphone safely.
Teach them good habits with your own phone use
If you’re the type of person who relies on your phone for everything and is constantly checking it for social media updates and messages, the likelihood is your child will do the same. Teaching our kids good habits in phone use relies on the same principles as teaching them healthy eating habits and good manners. Try to limit your own screen time (if only in front of your kids) otherwise trying to tell them to put their phones away will come across as somewhat hypocritical and is likely to be ineffective.
Adjust the settings
Setting up features such as the lock function is especially important for kids. This protects the privacy of your child’s phone and stops other kids from being able to access the phone which will often lead them straight to your child’s social media page. The last thing they need is for someone to post something on there as a ‘joke’ without them realizing it. Set up device and content restrictions to limit what your child has access to. Whilst these are not foolproof and can allow some inappropriate content to slip through, this should set your mind at rest that it is unlikely that your child will see something you would rather they didn’t. Unfortunately, there is only so much you can limit by changing settings. Read up on some ideas on what to do if you are worried about who is in contact with your child.
Talk about bullying
Cyberbullying is one of the most difficult things today’s kids are faced with. It is something that happens in the virtual realm of the internet where parents and teachers have no oversight of the situation. Ensure your child knows what to do if someone starts picking on them online or if a friend asks them to join in with bullying someone else online. Having a serious talk about this before your child gets their first smartphone and is exposed to this world is incredibly important. In the same way as with regular bullying, they need to be confident in coming to you or another family member as soon as bullying begins to occur.
Following these steps will help to protect your child online and ensure they are able to use their smartphone in the safest way possible.