Giving a child a cell phone comes with a lot of responsibility. They are responsible for not breaking the law when driving. Laws vary by state and it is up to them not to break them. They also have to take care of their phone and follow the guidelines that their parents set.
My children are young. It will be many years before they get a phone. In a recent U.S. Cellular survey, respondents indicated that 13 was an appropriate age for a child to receive their first mobile phone, whereas five years ago this age was 15. I already know there will be times that they will not be allowed to use their phone. There are certain times when it is rude and inappropriate to be chatting or texting. A recent U.S. Cellular survey found 39 percent of parents say they wish their children would talk to them instead of texting/emails or instant messaging them.
U.S. Cellular has developed a Parent-Child Agreement that can guide the conversations parents and children have about cell phone usage. The Parent-Child Agreement was developed in response to data from U. S. Cellular's Better Moments online survey, which found that half of U. S. Cellular customers with children say their kids currently own mobile phones. In addition, while 91% of parents set mobile phone usage guidelines for their children, 63% indicated they would find it helpful to have an agreement to guide their ability to supervise children's usage and behavior with mobile devices. The agreement is customizable so that families can make it work for their specific needs. You can find the agreement here.
For parents who have just purchased a new mobile device for their child, U.S. Cellular recommends the following tips to help ensure their children’s usage is both safe and courteous:
- Establish guidelines: According to the U.S. Cellular Better Moments survey, 72% of families have rules regarding child’s cell phone use. To help make this conversation as easy as possible for all parents, U.S. Cellular’s Parent-Child Agreement provides customizable suggestions on safety and etiquette that focus on creating better moments within families. The intention is to make this work for each individual family, and to show how technology can enhance time spent together as a family.
- Set up their phone: Take the time to set up your child’s phone to ensure they only have access to phone features and apps that are appropriate for their age. The U.S. Cellular Family Protector App provides safety and security by allowing parents to block websites, restrict the downloading of applications, and more.
- Monitor usage: Regularly checking in on your child’s mobile phone usage can ensure they are using their phone safely and responsibly. The Family Protector app allows parents to monitor call content including text messages, contacts and call history. It can also set schedules for usage to ensure children are not using their device at school and can also set time limits for using the internet once home.
U.S. Cellular will offer free Device Workshops in July that focus on this very topic. At the workshops, U.S. Cellular associates will offer families tips on setting phone guidelines and share suggestions to help with the decision of getting their child their first cell phone. Choosing a phone for your child can be hard to determine. The workshops can help you decide. You may be interested in the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S5. For a list of Device Workshops in your area, visit www.uscellular.com/events
Disclosure: I am a compensated member of the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade. All opinions are my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment