{"id":17139,"date":"2018-06-29T13:44:05","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T20:44:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=17139"},"modified":"2018-07-13T17:26:06","modified_gmt":"2018-07-14T00:26:06","slug":"parental-advice-before-giving-your-child-a-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/parental-advice-before-giving-your-child-a-phone\/","title":{"rendered":"Parental Advice Before Giving Your Child a Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n<\/a>\"Parental<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article is first in our popular repeated series of three articles geared towards educating parents and helping them to set limits on the phones they “lend” their tweens and teens.  <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Thinking of giving your child a phone?  What should you know before your child first turns on his\/her phone for the first time? We liken a child’s first cellphone to driving for the first time.  Educating your child and giving him\/her limits before s\/he starts using a cellphone (or driving) is important to help “steer” him\/her clear of potential pitfalls and accidents.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Education<\/span><\/h2>\n

First and foremost, giving your child a phone is one of those “rites <\/strong>of passage<\/strong>” in life.  It’s probably the first major item of considerable value your child has ever been responsible for.  S\/he will be responsible for keeping it charged each day (so they can use it), keeping it from being dropped, maintaining storage space (so they can add more photos and apps!), and keeping it secure so it doesn’t get stolen.  If you are not sure your child can do these things, you may want to wait a little longer until they are more responsible.<\/p>\n

But responsibility for the phone is only a part of the equation.<\/strong>  What matters far more is how they handle their interactions with the phone.  Kids use phones to text messages to each other, chat with other through apps, look up videos and music, send email’s, watch movies, and of course take pictures.  But, according to physiologists, their online life becomes an extension of their identity and who they are<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n

Children will test their communities of “friends” to gain followers, respect, acceptance, or to show-off.  Your child may be exhibiting these behaviors or be on the receiving end of someone else’s aggressive behavior.  Teach your child about some of the dangers of the Internet BEFORE your child becomes embroiled in one.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Talk to Your Kids About:<\/strong><\/p>\n