Every school-going kid seems to have one, but is there really a need for Junior to have a smartphone?
Why does he need one?
There is no magic age when kids should start having mobile phones, says Dr Lim Boon Len, a psychiatrist at Dr BL Lim Centre for Psychological Wellness. Instead, you should ask why he needs one. Do you need him to be easily contactable? Do you want him to be able to reach you during an emergency? If you are satisfi ed with the answers, and he knows how to use a phone to make a call and can be trusted to keep his belongings safe, then you can consider buying one.
Go for a no-frills model
If your child is in lower primary school, it’s better to get him a basic phone, Dr Lim says. With a smartphone, there’s that danger of exposing him to addictive online games and cyber-bullying. Social media apps and online videos may also be detrimental to his development. Smartphones are not advisable unless he’s in upper primary school. Important school or social information is sometimes disseminated via apps and social media platforms and, in such cases, you’d want him to have easy access to it. You don’t have to splash out on the latest expensive or fancy smartphone – give Junior your old one or buy him one of the cheaper, simpler models.
Prepaid versus postpaid
“A prepaid plan will give you better control over your child’s mobile Internet and phone usage, so you should go with that fi rst,” Dr Lim points out. “When he’s a little older and more trustworthy, and has shown that he can handle his data usage responsibly, then you can consider signing him up for a post-paid plan.”
Set rules to prevent addiction
Once you’ve decided on the rules, discuss them with Junior to make sure he understands what he can and cannot do with the phone, when, where and how often he is allowed to use it, and so on, says Dr Lim. If there are certain apps or functions on the phone you do not want him to use, let him know and tell him why. Make clear the consequences of breaching these rules, monitor his usage and educate him on the dangers of online games and social media apps. It’s useful to keep yourself updated on the latest apps, games and social media platforms as well. This will help you identify potential dangers and give you the chance to communicate these to him.
