It is no doubt that mobile phones are here to stay but what is the right age for a child to be given a mobile?
In the race for life you want to make sure that your child is aware of the dangers that surrounds them and in doing so you wish to protect your child as much as possible. A mobile phone appears to be an easy option but in doing so you have to consider further implications. Robbery of mobile phones is high on the list of crimes against children and it is important to impress upon your child that no mobile phone is worth the cost of their life if they are in such a situation. Many mobile phones have access to the internet which allow children access e.g. to chat rooms. Make your child aware of the dangers that are out there and inform them of the safe practices to use on the internet. Contact your network provider to find out more about blocking your child from unsuitable sites.
As a parent, you know your child best and will know when the time is right. What may suit one parent may not follow through for yourself. Do not let yourself be pressured by society into doing something you feel is not right for your child.
A mobile phone has many benefits to enhance your child’s safety in the case where your child needs to contact the emergency services, for those occasions when you yourself need to contact your child. GPS – Global Positioning Satellite is available on many handsets which can help you track your child’s phone if needed and can also enable your child in such cases where they are lost. But, of course, a mobile phone is only as good as its user, so do make sure to teach your child about the functions of their phone and the reasons as to why they are being given it. A mobile phone can do so much, when placed in the right hands with sufficient information to make the journey a successful one.
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