My daughter is 7 and owns a smartphone...
This is my answer to the Ecotrain's Question of the Week: Should parents set a minimum age or some restrictions for their children to own a smartphone, and if so what would they be?
So yes, my 7-year-old has a smartphone...
Now before you all come at me and say that is awful and I must be a terrible mother, it is on the caveat that there is no SIM card in it, but she can access the internet on it.
There will be no functioning SIM card (or at least calls/messages blocked and barred from it, because the moment the phone has given up the ghost because it doesn’t have a SIM card) until she is in year 6 (age 10) and if she chooses that she wants to walk home alone from school, she can have my number only on it.
Both my daughters (age 7 and 5) also have tablets, but they know to ask me before they watch anything new on them.
One daughter uses it to learn everything she can about a subject like looking after guinea pigs and now she is looking up running tips, as that is her latest ambition.
The other likes to watch endless videos about toys, she can describe them really well so in a way it is educational, but it also means her Christmas list is as long as the Nile.
However, I do sneak up on them on regular occasions to have a peek to make sure that they are watching suitable things, should their clicks go astray.
I keep an ear out as well. Especially for the songs that they listen too, but again that is subjective, especially when at dance school they dance to songs such as “Get Down and Dirty”, but they don’t know what that means.
That is another subject completely - popstars as role models is a route I best not go down right now.
I also check the internet history carefully too. As they get older I know that more checks will be put in place.
The parent safety controls will have to be permanently on and social media usage monitored somewhat (or a lot) when they get to the teenage years
It will be a fine line between protecting them and giving them some privacy - not sure how I will go about that yet.
Are Smart Devices Really That Terrible?
I’m sorry to say that they do really love their tablets and as a work at home mom, sometimes they can be a godsend to get some work done
Like now, for example as I’m writing this post, as they are home on half term, so I am getting my work done in the morning, so we can have the afternoon to go out and have some fun.
I think today, it is just part of the world we are in. They worked out the television remote at 3 (yes I let them watch tv too), as long as we monitor what they see and let them know the consequences of straying from the safe choices.
I try to keep a mix of different things, they love their outdoor activities, playing in boxes and crafting too, as long as they don’t end up with square eyes and headaches I think it is just part of modern life.
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Restrictions would be the amount of time spent on them, what they have access to on it and what age to trust them (if that is even ever whilst they are children under my roof).
I have a bit of a roll with it attitude and see what issues it throws up along the way.
Smartphones are a New Parenting Phenonema to Deal With...
It’s kind of a new phenomenon really to deal with as a parent. I had a ZX Spectrum as a kid and played at being a boxing manager, I enjoyed doing that and a football manager one and I had really no idea of positions that footballers played and put them all in the wrong ones and the team did really well, haha.
Oh and Chuckie Egg, anyone else remember that one?
Didn’t have mobile phones till I was at least in my 20s and then at some point after that they turned smart.
But my mind and life have broadened with the advent of this kind of technology - I think it should be embraced somewhat, rather than restricted.
Because at the end of the day, it is an avenue that means that you can live life on your own terms.
<3 as always @hopehuggs
don't feel guilty dear @hopehuggs!
"its not what you do, its the way that you do it" as the famous song once sung..
besides im sure your kids are not the typical heavy users that many kids are...
sadly i never owned a ZX spectrum so i missed out on that joy! lol.. my first computer was an Amstrad CPC 464.. i cant believe i still remeber the name.. then i had a VIC 20. which was an amazing upgrade.. then the Atari ST which was just amazing! well.. you know the rest.. suffice is to say.. when we build a good character in our children we can let them do anything without concern! X <3
<3
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I truly hope that this will be the case.
I expect there will be a couple of blips, but that was essentially what I was like as a teenager.
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This really is a double-edged sword. There are so many negatives, but there are also a lot of positives. You seem to have found the answer to a happy balance. I think we have to face up to the fact that they are a part of modern day life, and us older beings have to learn to accept it.
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Indeed that balance is hard to find. But it can improve our lives in so many ways.
My daughter threatens to take Steemit away from me, so they know a little too much about internet addictions already.
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Sounds like you have a solid plan in place for your daughters use of technology. One thing I would add is to teach them while they are young when using technology is not appropriate. I don't allow phones at the table during meals. At certain events the phone needs to shut off.
I know that there are apps that can limit the phones use. I recall reading about one that disables the phones ability to be used until they check in.
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We do indeed have the no tablets or phones at the table rule. And when we are out having a meal too, although I do use the app to order the meal, so I don't have to leave them unattended at a table to do so.
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Great answer Hope and that's something I believe is a very good way to make your kids benefit from a smartphone without making them build an addiction of it. My cousin who is 8 has a smartphone too but without a sim. However, she is addicted to it because her mother hasn't set limits on her screen time and like your daughters she doesn't ask her before watching something new.
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They see me on my computer 'working' so it is quite hard to set the screen time when they see me on it so much, but am fixing and stepping away and trying to be a good example.
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On the one hand I'm a bit envious of not having this kind of tech at my fingers tips at the age of 7, I would of maybe done so much more productive things as a kid but instead I spent alot of time playing on the street and learning social skills. Not sure what I would do if I had kids but honestly it sound like quite hard work having to check up on it regularly, but it's good u do it to protect them. Q
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It is hard to know exactly what to do, as its a new generational thing to deal with as a parent. Balance is the key.
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Yes we need to set a age limit on the kids now a days their addiction to the smart phones is a lot.
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Yes time limits are something that need to be in place for sure
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Very good information, I like to read this article because it is very useful for parents who already have children.
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There is so much to think about as a parent in this day and age with modern technology and its implications.
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Minimum age should be 15 not more than that,so it can be useful for them too in regards of technology.
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That would be hard to implement. The internet part is so hard to monitor whatever age.
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I would say yes..parent must apply some rules to them before 20 years of age.
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I would amend that to whilst they live under my roof, there will be rules.
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Some sort of restrictions is necessary there is a age for everything :)
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Yes, they need to be children too.
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Do you think the youth should use websites as a reliable source or knowledge?
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I think in terms of how to, it can be invaluable, but when it comes to homework and things, I will try to help the children look and identify reliable sources, which is difficult as indeed even the news is subjective.
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Great answer!
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