Children need rules when it comes to cell phones
Posted January 4, 2013 5:38 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – With kids getting cell phones at younger ages than ever before, it’s important to understand how to keep them safe.
“We really have to remind our children that they’re not entitled to a cell phone, that this is a privilege they have and that we as parents need to stay in the lead with this,” according to psychologist Dr. Alyson Jones.
This comes in light of a woman garnering a lot of Internet attention after she bought her 13-year-old son a cell phone for Christmas but made him sign a contract with 18 stipulations attached.
Jones says outlining the use and rules that go along with having a cell phone is really important. Jones says parents need to put their foot down. “This is a privilege and as long as we’re the ones making the contract with the company and paying for the phone, we own the phone, it is the adult’s phone.”
She says a contract is an excellent idea but prior to giving them the phone, there needs to be conversation outlining what your expectations are. She stresses that it cannot simply be what their expectations are, but what you expect from them once they have it.
Jones says the number one rule must be the passcode is given to the parents. Secondly, they must be able to look at the phone to see what is being sent out and received.
“Now that doesn’t mean that I’m interested in reading every text that my children send, nor do I have the time to do that, nor do I have the desire. The fact is, it needs to be written as if a parent or adult could be viewing it, so that it creates a responsibility,” explains Jones.
She adds that there is no way to completely safe guard everything but it’s important to teach children about respectful communication.
