If you are the parent of a tween – or even a pre-tween – you are probably dreading the moment that they ask for a mobile phone (make that a Smartphone). As kids want phones at increasingly younger ages, many parents will undoubtedly come face-to-face with a hard decision to make. It\u2019s important for parents to step back and examine if a child is mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes wrapped up in a Smartphone.<\/p>\n
Before we rush to buy our child a Smartphone, we need to take a serious look at our child\u2019s responsibility and judgment skills.<\/strong> Research estimates that 75%<\/a> of eight-year-olds access \u201csmart\u201d devices on a regular basis. Furthermore, 78%<\/a> of teens possess their own mobile phone. All this connectivity doesn\u2019t necessarily mean children have the know-how to navigate full-time ownership of a Smartphone.<\/p>\n Children might understand how to tap a screen or send a friend request, but often lack the required etiquette and obligation that comes with being a citizen of the digital world. Take a minute and ask yourself the following questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you answered \u201cno\u201d to any of the above questions, it might be wise to forgo the Smartphone this year.<\/strong> However, if you answered \u201cyes\u201d your child is a good candidate for owning his or her own device. Thankfully, parents can take steps to safeguard their children from the dizzying world of sexting, online predators, cyber bullies and disappearing messages.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n