When Should You Get Your Kid a Phone?
Parents should give kids a
reality check by setting limits on phone usage that the whole family follows.
For example, families can set dinner aside as a time when everyone puts down
their phones and checks in with each other. For families who are on the go, car
rides are another good time to unplug and have a conversation.
To help teens learn
self-regulation skills, Dr.
Steiner-Adair suggests using technology to tame technology. “Applications
like Rescue Time and
Freedom are a great resource for limiting
their distractions online,” she says. These applications monitor Internet usage
and can be set to block distracting sites after a set amount of time. Such
tools are particularly good for kids who find themselves too distracted or
overwhelmed by social media when they’re doing homework or before bed.
When should you step in?
Of course parents should limit
their teenagers’ access to phones and other media when they feel kids are using
them inappropriately.
But Dr. Marwick
thinks the dangers to teenagers sharing and socializing online can be
exaggerated; most teens are better at avoiding cyber mistakes than you might
think. And many are getting smarter about how they present themselves on social
media, using Facebook to positively brand themselves for college and keeping
multiple Instagram accounts for personal use or portfolio work.
Stamp a family
Cell Phone Rule:
Rule #1: No
cell phones in the bedroom at night
Rule #2: No
cell phones in school especially to curb distractions
Rule #3: No
cell phones on important family times
Rule #4: Rule
out all picture mails
Rule #5: Ensure each cell phone contact is only real friend or family members only for
security reasons and Finally;
Rule #6: Restrict
Wireless Devices, harmful Websites in the Classroom and at homes
