For many children, the first smartphone couldn’t come soon enough. Some parents wait as long as possible, others watch what other class parents do. But how do you know if your child is ready? Please read these four important points!
- Does your child display responsibility? For example, are they careful with their belongings, do they wake themself up, do they take their schoolwork seriously and do they generally stick to agreements, such as coming home on time? Kids with a strong sense of responsibility are not only more careful with things (in this case the smartphone), but are often also better at setting priorities.
- How does your child communicate? A smartphone brings with it a whole new layer of communication which makes your child’s life a lot busier and complex. If your child is already pretty open about their thoughts and feelings, is good at participating in conversations, and has a few solid friendships prior to having a smartphone, then they will have less trouble navigating this new world of online communication.
- Does your child like to be active? Kids who spend a lot of time outdoors, exercising or being active with friends even before receiving their first smartphone are less likely to completely set aside their need for physical activity. Screen time would still benefit them, but they will continue to have plenty of other activities to turn to as well.
- How involved is your child? A smartphone opens the door to a whole new world. Your child already being actively and independently involved offline, for example by having their own hobbies, enjoying time with family and friends and being present in conversations, can help with not letting the smartphone completely take over.
Not only is this list useful for before buying the first smartphone, but also for checking up on how your child is holding up once the phone has arrived.
Are there concerns about any of these factors while using a smartphone? Then look at it in relation to their phone use: could a little less screen time help? Or being a little more conscious about their phone use? Ultimately, these points are not about achieving perfection, but about children finding the right balance together with you!
