By Lisa Woodward – Life Education NSW cyber safety Educator
Why does your child need a mobile phone?
A lot of parents ask “What’s the right age to buy my child a mobile phone?” There is no right or wrong age – rather it’s based on what your child’s needs are.
Start by asking your child why they think they need a mobile phone. This can be a great opportunity to teach your child that they don’t have to have a mobile phone because “phones are cool”, “everyone else has one” or “I will look like a loser if I don’t have the latest iPhone”. A phone should not be a status symbol for a child but a communication tool.
There are many positives to giving your child a mobile. They are a great way for you and your child to contact each other, and can give you peace of mind and help keep your child safe. Mobile phones can also promote your child’s sense of belonging and connection by keeping them in touch with their friends.
When we discuss mobile phones with the children in our Life Education lessons we often ask the question “why do you think a parent would want a child to have a phone” and the children always know the answers: “to help keep us safe”, “to let them know if I missed the bus”, and “so they can contact me”.
Who will be paying the phone bills?
To help avoid large phone bills, discuss costs in advance with your child. Starting with a prepaid plan is a good way to set a monthly budget. Help your child to learn responsible consumer behaviour and understand how to stick within their budget. If they go over they will have to wait until next month to use their phone.
Top Comments
My kids got mobile phones when they each turned 14. I have a strict set of rules. They must hand them over periodically so i can see what they are doing and any infractions results in the loss of their phones. I also am aware they are fully capable of deleting things they dont want me to see. So i also try to keep the lines of communication open. It may not be the most foolproof system but at some point you have to trust that your kids will tell you if something goes wrong. My son is now 22 and he never had a problem i wasnt aware of. (hes on his own now) My daughter is 15 and hates it when i check her phone. But tough. With cyberbullying and other dangerous people out there i have no choice but to check. Until she pays for her own phone i consider that phone my property and shes just borrowing it.
Well why do YOU need a mobile phone? Infact why does anyone need a mobile phone? Most children are not idiots. Accept the technology - its our daily life now, get on with it or be left behind.