6 Questions To Ask Before You Buy A Mobile Phone For Your Children

Are you considering buying a mobile phone for your children? Are you perhaps already discussing whether it is time, or whether it would be better to wait? Unfortunately, there is no right answer that applies to all families or all children.

The answer depends on each family’s needs and everyday life. Each family is unique, just as all children mature at their own pace.

Here is a list of questions that we recommend you ask yourself before letting your child have their own cell phone.

Questions to ask before giving your children a cell phone

1. Does your child really need a cell phone?

Ask yourself why you think a cell phone would be useful for your child’s safety.

For example, might your child spend time alone at home and need a cell phone to contact you? Does your child use public transport for any reason?

If your child stays on leisure after school for a few days or participates in leisure activities, there are also factors to take into account.

It is important that your child can reach you when needed, and a mobile phone may be the best option.

2. Is your child mature enough to use and take care of a mobile phone?

Having a mobile phone does not mean that you use it day in and day out without restrictions, while mom and dad pay the bills. Children must also learn to use their phones responsibly and intelligently.

For example, you can demand that your child earn a portion of his or her phone bill by doing extra household chores.

3. Are you ready to set clear rules and guidelines for the use of the mobile phone?

Before you give your child a phone call, you, your partner and your child must be clear about the rules, norms and boundaries that apply. Your child needs to know your expectations regarding his or her cell phone use.

This should be a conversation for the whole family where all parties reach a common agreement. It is important to clarify when, where and how much your child can use the phone.

It is also important to clarify what the phone may be used for, and what it may not be used for. And of course, your child should know what the consequences are if he or she breaks these rules.

4. Does your child know how to make good decisions?

Is your child accustomed to making good decisions instead of acting impulsively and without thinking beforehand? When your child is not under your supervision, does he or she still abide by the rules?

Questions like these will help you determine if your child can behave responsibly when it comes to using a cell phone.

If your child is not mature enough to make good decisions in other areas, do not expect it to be different with a telephone.

5. Have you had a serious conversation with your son or daughter about cell phone use?

Before handing over a mobile phone to your child, it is important that you have a serious conversation about making good decisions.

At the same time, you need to clarify what your expectations are and what the consequences will be if your child breaks those expectations.

Talk to your child about your fears and explain what behaviors can be problematic or even endanger your children.

Talking to strangers, cyberbullying, games and pornography are issues that you should address to keep your child safe.

Do not automatically assume that your child will make good decisions about these problems. Explain the rules and the reasons behind them clearly.

If needed, you can install parental controls on your phone to keep your child safer when he or she uses it.

6. What happens if the phone breaks?

Mobile phones break down for various reasons, so this is also a problem that you need to take into account. Talk to your child about what happens if the phone breaks, gets lost or is stolen.

Will the child need a replacement telephone? If so, who will pay for it? Will your child be responsible for providing the money to repair it or buy a new one?

Discuss the possibilities so that you avoid conflicts later.

If you are considering giving your child a cell phone, these are the questions you should ask yourself in advance.

Your son or daughter needs to know that cell phones are not toys – there are rules that must be followed.

Make sure your child is old enough and responsible before giving him or her a phone call.