When Actually Children Are Ready To Have A Cellphone

Nowadays many parents consider cell phones (cellphones) to be an effective way to always be connected with children. Parents can find out about their whereabouts and news at any time. Conversely, children can also immediately contact parents if there is an urgent need. But, if your child is ready to have a cellphone and what about the negative effects that might arise? Having a cellphone means that children can also access a lot of media, ranging from music, movies, games, videos, to television channels. Of course this can affect the child's development.

Paying Attention to Maturity and Children's Needs

In fact, there is no most appropriate age standard that can apply to all children to begin to be given the responsibility of using a cellphone. Age does not always indicate the maturity of children to be responsible for using cell phones. Some children mature more quickly, so that they can be given trust and responsibility at junior high school age. But other children may only be ready at high school age (high school). Mother can make observations about the child's readiness to have a cellphone. Although the characters and habits of each child must be different, there are general signs that can be a guide to determine that children begin to have a cellphone:

• Can be responsible and can be trusted to take care of his belongings.
• Understand and follow the rules.
• Able to assess the positive and negative sides of various aspects, and have opinions on various things.
• Having an understanding that cell phones have functions that need to be used appropriately and responsibly.

If a child wants to have a cellphone just because he wants to be the same as his friends or just wants to look cool, he may not really be ready to have it. In addition to maturity and readiness, there are times when cellphones are also more needed for certain conditions. Children who commute to school using public transportation, may need a cellphone more than a child who is sent from a parent to school every day. Children who have health problems certainly have more needs to be able to contact and can be contacted at any time. Similarly, children who live far from parents.

Things parents need to consider before giving a cellphone

In addition to maturity and needs, there are still a number of things parents need to pay attention to when giving a cellphone to a child.

• Does the child already know how to use the internet safely? We recommend that you comply with the minimum age of use of social media in children and adolescents. Generally 13 years is the minimum age a person can have a social media account.
• What are these phones for? Phones that are more often used to play games may actually make children not focus on the lesson. It is different if the child uses it to call online transportation facilities when they come home from school, or so that parents can monitor their presence. Not that you shouldn't play games at all, but parents need to teach children to be able to control themselves and manage their time well.
• Mobile phones can make children not focus on learning, even make them not pay attention to the conditions around when on the road or are interacting with friends. Parents need to be patient to discipline children in using cellphones.
• Giving a cellphone to a child makes parents need to provide their own funds for monthly credit.
• Pornography and unhealthy friendships in cyberspace are two things that also need attention and discussion together before the child has
• Mobile phones also have the potential to affect children's health, ranging from visual impairment to the potential for cancer.

By being aware of the potential negative effects of cellphones, parents and children can work together to minimize these effects.

Accompanying the Use of Cellphones in Children

If after making observations, parents assess that the child is ready to have a cellphone, the following is what parents can do to assist the child using a cellphone:

• Mobile phones with limited capabilities

As a first step, parents can buy a cell phone without internet access, games, or even a camera. Enough can be used to send short messages and make phone calls.

• Provides additional mobile facilities after the child is ready

If he can already be responsible for using a cellphone without internet access, then, as needed, parents can give him limited internet access. For example, can only send messages via the application but can not surf the internet. Nowadays many applications can be used to control internet usage on different cellphones. Parents can arrange that certain social media or sites cannot be accessed by children.

• Set mobile usage rules

Determine also when he is not allowed to use his cellphone, for example when eating together, school hours, hours of study at home, and one hour before bedtime. Parents can also apply special rules such as having to immediately answer short messages and pick up the phone from parents. To reduce radiation exposure, tell the child not to put the cellphone under the pillow while sleeping, and avoid putting it in a pocket.

• Teach the karma of interaction karma in cyberspace

Teach him manners to interact in cyberspace, such as not spreading hoaxes, not taking photos of others without permission, not chatting on the phone while in public places, and not communicating with strangers.

Although he already understands, it is still important for parents to continue to accompany the Little One and occasionally check the use of his cellphone. Remember that the role of parents in the development of the Little One, is very important. Parents also need to set an example in the rules that are applied to children. If a child is not allowed to hold a cellphone while eating, it means that parents should too. So, is Little One ready to have a cellphone? Please consider carefully, Mother and Father.