Getting your Child a Cell Phone

With the current pandemic, social distancing, and staying home it has become more normalized for kids to turn to their electronics as a source of entertainment. Smart phones have become a popular way to stay connected to friends during this period of isolation. However, if you plan on getting your child their own phone, it is important to take some factors into consideration.

Screen Time
The amount of time your child spends on electronic devices, commonly referred to as “screen time,” is likely important to you, as a parent. You may be worried that giving your child a phone will greatly increase their screen time, especially if they already use other electronics such as tablets, game consoles, and television. According to the Mayo Clinic (2020), the acceptable amount of screentime is one hour a day for children ages two to twelve, and two hours a day for teens and adults. Phones can prove to be addicting, causing your child to use it for prolonged periods of time and making their screen time skyrocket. Too much screen time can be detrimental to your child’s health and well-being, affecting the following areas:

~ Social skills: Phones can be all-consuming, keeping children hooked even in the presence of others. Even when children are with their friends, they may spend most of their time on their individual phones. This prevents them from interacting with their peers and inhibits their ability to further develop their social skills. 
~ Academics: With the infinite number of apps available, phones can prove to be very distracting. Children can often get caught up in playing games or scrolling through social media rather than completing their homework or studying for a test. This can ultimately lead to poor academic performance as a result of less time spent on their studies. 
~ Exercise: It can be tempting for children to stay inside and stare on their phone all day. Screen time can intrude on a child’s outside time, where they would otherwise be active. This can negatively impact children’s health by limiting physical activity and in some cases, causing obesity. 

To curb these negative effects of screen time, implement a plan for phone usage with your child. By creating rules, you can help form healthy habits that will stick with them as they grow and continue to use technology. Some examples include: 
1) Make tech-free time: Encourage conversation at dinner and other family gatherings by making family time phone-free
2) Exercise: Promote less screen time by turning off phones and being active
3) Share screen time: Engage with your child as they use their phone by playing a game or watching a video with them, and seek out interactive digital activities
4) Use time limiting settings: Set daily screen time limits on your child’s phone through settings or other apps

Apps and Social Media
The unlimited number of apps at the touch of your child’s fingertips can lead to infinite opportunities for growth, and sometimes, trouble. There are several social media platforms that have become especially popular with children including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube to name a few. While harmless if used properly, these apps can be dangerous for young users if they are not adequately monitored. Some of the dangers include cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and personal information leakage. There are some steps you can take to ensuring your child is safe online. 

1) Ask questions: When considering if your child is ready to use an app, it is important to have a discussion with them. Here are a few questions you can ask your child: 
~ Do you know what the app does?
~ What do you want to do on the app?
~ Why do you want to use the app?

These questions can help you to start a collaborative conversation with your child about their phone usage, and gauge whether or not your child is ready to use an app. If their answers are vague, they don’t have a good understanding of the app and its purpose, and it would be a good idea to have further discussion about the app before deciding if they are ready to use it. 

2) Do your research: Familiarize yourself with the app or social media platform before allowing your child to use it. 
3) Make an account: You can monitor your child on social media by creating your own account. In doing so, you can follow your child’s account and view what they are posting.

Conclusion
Allowing your child to have a cell phone of their own can be a big decision. It can even be a highly positive decision for your child when you feel confident they are able to handle one. Being mindful of the potential dangers of screen time and social media can help you guide your child into becoming a technologically safe and healthy individual!

References

Prabhakaran, M. (2020). 6 tips to reduce children’s screen time. Mayo Clinic Health System. Retrieved November 20, 2020.  https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/6-tips-to-reduce-childrens-screen-time/