When it's time to buy your child's first cell phone, you'll be able to make the best choice possible if you know all the facts.
Technology is a regular part of our kids' lives, whether we like it or not. Many parents try to limit how much time their kids spend in front of screens, but at some point, your child may need a cell phone so you can talk to them.
When it's time to buy your child's first cell phone, you may feel like you don't know where to start. But you can make the best decision possible once you have all the facts.
Details about a phone
There are a lot of cell phones out there now. Especially if you don't know much about technology, this can make it hard to choose the best phone for your child.
Jackie Dove of Digital Trends says that before you go shopping, you should think about what parts of the phone are most important to you and your child and what you like and don't like about the way a phone looks and works. Before you go shopping for a phone for your child, think about what they need from it. This will help you compare the options and choose something that really meets their needs.
For example, you should think about what kind of operating system (OS) you want your child's phone to have. Apple's iOS and Google's Android OS are two of the most popular ones. If you already have an iPhone or other Apple products in your home, getting an iPhone may make sense. If not, Android phones can be cheaper and still do the same job.
Also, you might want to think about what size screen would work best for the phone. Smaller phones are easier for kids to hold and use, but older kids who use their phones to read or do other things may want a slightly bigger phone. When deciding what size screen is best, you should also think about how your child will carry the phone and how the size of the screen might affect their ability to put it in their pocket or bag.
Other details that parents may want to think about are:
Camera
- The battery's life
- Tracking and GPS
- Easy to use
Parental Controls
You may want your child to have a cell phone so they can call or text you, but chances are they will also use the internet and other apps if the phone you choose lets them. So, you'll need parental controls to help you keep track of what your child can and can't download and look at on their phone.
Both iOS and Android have some parental controls built in, but you may want or need something more. Parents can keep their kids safe while they use their phones thanks to the fact that there are now a lot of great parental control apps available.
PC Magazine says that parental control apps can help parents keep an eye on their child's phones in many ways. Most parents want parental controls so they can filter what their child sees on the internet, stop them from installing questionable or inappropriate apps, control how much time their child spends on a device, and find out where they are.
Even though there are a lot of parental control apps on the market, most experts agree that these are some of the best:
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Google Link
- Bark
- Qustodio
- Net Nanny
- Screen Time on Apple
Types of Plans
Your child will need a cell phone plan to go with the phone you buy for them so that they can use it. There are both monthly payment plans and pay-as-you-go options for these plans. They cover call time, texting, and even data use.
Since you already have a cell phone, you can always just add another line to your existing phone plan. Tina Chang from Whistle Out points out, though, that there are also cell phone plans for kids that can save parents money and give them more options for limiting data use and other things.
For example, Verizon has a plan called "Just Kids." This plan lets parents limit the number of people their kids can talk to. It also gives kids unlimited calls and texts and 5 gigabytes of data per month (with a max of 20 contacts).
If you'd rather go with cheaper options, there are companies like Mint Mobile, FreeUp, and US Mobile that offer unique options for kids' plans.
Cell Phones Rules
Once you choose a phone and plan that will work best for your child, you should still talk to them about the rules and consequences for their cell phone use and how to use it properly. Kickmobiles suggests that parents sit down with their kids and make a cell phone contract with them before giving them the phone.
When making these ground rules, make sure you talk about how and when your child should talk to you, what they can and can't do with their phone, and any restrictions you want for phone use at night. By making these rules clear from the start, your child is more likely to follow through and do what you want.