When parents think of giving their children smartphones, they often think of the bad before the good. We are bombarded with messages from the media about how much damage technology is doing to our children. Stats like those from the London School of Economics, which says that nine out of ten children who go online will view online pornography, or that of teens have witnessed cyberbullying, cause a lot of parents to view technology with skepticism.
When parents think of giving their children smartphones, they often think of the bad before the good. We are bombarded with messages from the media about how much damage technology is doing to our children. Stats like those from the London School of Economics, which says that nine out of ten children who go online will view online pornography, or that two-thirds of teens have witnessed cyberbullying, cause a lot of parents to view technology with skepticism.
But with the risks associated with the rise of technology have also come great reward. Some of the benefits of smartphone use for children include added dimensions of learning, safety, and digital socialization skills.
- Advanced Learning — While the advent of smartphones has been disastrous for libraries and newspapers, it has been beneficial for other ways of learning. Children with smartphones today can research in their free time, find out new things at the touch of a button, and share their knowledge with others.
- Safety — One of the main reasons why parents give their children smartphones is because they can keep track of their location and activity more easily. With advancing technology, parents can track where their children are, who they are with, and what they are doing.
- Digital socialization — Just like socializing with other children, learning the digital “rules of the road” at a young age may be beneficial. By starting early, children can learn what to do (and what not to do) on their smartphone before the consequences become more dire.
Digital innovation is happening in front of our eyes every day, which is why it is virtually impossible (and unrealistic) to implement smartphone bans. Instead, we suggest implementing digital mentorship, not censorship.
What is a Digital Mentor?
Parents are seen as mentors throughout their children’s lives in countless ways, and technology is one of them. You may feel tempted to ban all smartphone usage all together, and while this may seem like a temporary solution, it is not the answer. Instead, parents should act as a digital mentor and teach their children safe habits. Some crucial lessons:
- Although there are inappropriate things on the Internet, there is a vast amount of useful and educational material, as well.
- Treat others on the Internet with kindness, and report any cyber bullying you see. Just like on the playground, children should be proactive and responsible
- Never give out any personal information. Most children know not to trust strangers, and the Internet is no exception
Crafting a Digitally Safe Space
According to The Hill, US adults increasingly rank web safety as a leading health concern for children, as “smartphones and web use become ubiquitous.” Now that we’ve established that digital mentorship is more beneficial than digital censorship, or bans, let’s look at how to craft a digitally safe space for your children.
Establish Rules and Norms
There is no guarantee rule when it comes to healthy behavior with children and technology, and each parent’s rule will differ, but there are some general guidelines to keep in mind when setting rules for your child’s smartphone use. First, make sure that your children know that you always have the ultimate say. For example, if your child didn’t do their chores that morning, they may lose access to their phone for the day. You need to be the source of authority and guidance when it comes to your child’s behavior
Be a Source of Support
As children learn how to use technology safely, they will run into challenges. Create an environment that fosters questions, curiosity, and learning. Rather than punishing your child for bad smartphone behavior, teach them healthy behavior instead and walk them through what to do differently. Open communication is key when learning about this vast area of growth.
Use Technology to Set Boundaries
There are countless technologies available to keep children safe and parents at ease with Internet and smartphone usage. Many search engines, such as Google, allow parents to set filters for what their children can search for. At Forcefield, we offer a variety of products to help parents feel confident about their children’s smartphone behavior. For example, our Activity Report shows all the websites your kids are browsing, our Curated Library provides websites and apps that are safe for children, and our App Sleeper remotely turns apps and games off at night to prevent children staying up too late.
According to The Wall Street Journal, children and adolescents need coaching, support, good examples, and understanding. Taking the extra time and energy to be a digital mentor, rather than implementing a smartphone ban, will provide your children with constructive guidance and support.