Collaborative Post
With technology progressing rapidly, it’s no wonder we can hardly keep up with our kids and what they’re doing on their phones. We may not be able to look over their shoulders all the time, but we can teach them how to be responsible for when we’re not there.
Before you give your kids their own phone, make sure they understand that it is a privilege, not a right. They need to know that there are consequences for their actions and that there are boundaries. Whether you’re concerned about your kids going over your family’s data plan or viewing sites they shouldn’t, you don’t have to worry as much if you take the following steps:
When it Comes to Money
Your kids may not want to sit down for a lecture on how much data plans cost and how to use them, but that is exactly why you have to do it. Make your kids aware of how much data they can use per month and how much it would cost the family if they were to go over that amount. This will help them realize that it’s no small cost and the real-life consequences. If you really want to show them that you’re not messing around, you can tell them that they have to pay for any overages out of their own money.
When it Comes to Manners
Teaching your children healthy boundaries when it comes to their phone goes a long way. With the rapid growth of the internet, more and more people are spending way too much time online. But if you expect your kids to not be glued to their phones, you need to set a good example for them. That means you shouldn’t constantly be checking Facebook, texting and responding to emails. A simple solution is to set times when phones are not allowed, such as during meals or at bedtime. This teaches your children that there is a time and place for looking down at your screen.
When it Comes to Restrictions
We understand that sometimes you would feel much better if you could have a little more control over what your kids can and cannot access through their phone. Luckily for you, parental controls now exist on virtually every device. For example, the iPhone 6s allows you to create a password and choose what apps your child can and cannot use. All you have to do is click the General tab under Settings and look for the Restrictions option.
When it Comes to Laying Down the Law
Unfortunately, kids have their ways of cheating our systems. This means you need to decide what to do if they break the rules. One of the obvious choices is to take away their phones completely, but a less rigid option is to go back into their phone’s restrictions and tighten the reigns.
No matter how strict you decide to be with your kids, one of the most effective way to make sure your kids stay out of trouble is to stay informed. There are new apps and trends coming out all the time, so you need to stay up to date on what your kids are doing so you’re not surprised by something that could have been prevented.