My 14-year-old daughter is doing well with her cell phone, but I still won't be giving her full access to all features until she is older. I will also reserve the right to see her texts and activity at any time; I'm her parent!
Many other parents are dealing with the best ways to handle their kids' cell phone usage; some are being very strict or haven't given in to giving them a phone, and others have just handed the phone (and the bills) over completely!
There is a balance that can be achieved, and part of it is knowing your child. I recently attended an online webinar hosted by AT&T and the Motherhood. We learned about the ways to handle some of today's touchier cell phone subjects for children in my daughter's age range; I was really glad to hear that so many of my concerns are common ones.
One of the most amazing takeaways I got was this little fact:
I was also surprised to learn that:
Want to learn more and have a chance to win prizes? There will also be a Twitter event on Friday, Nov. 9th at 2pm EST. The hashtag is #ATTMobileSafety, and here is the Twtvite for more information: http://twtvite.com/attmobilesafety.
Good luck with teaching your kids, and don't be afraid to be their parent. That's what you're there for!
*I’m partnering with The Motherhood and AT&T to bring you information on mobile safety for kids.
Many other parents are dealing with the best ways to handle their kids' cell phone usage; some are being very strict or haven't given in to giving them a phone, and others have just handed the phone (and the bills) over completely!
One of the most amazing takeaways I got was this little fact:
"We also asked kids about the rules they have on their mobile phones. 66% said they do have rules on their phone usage. BUT, 90% said they would be OK with their parents setting rules."Do you know what that means? There is a huge opportunity for parents to get involved with setting healthy boundaries for phone use.
I was also surprised to learn that:
- 53% of kids have been in a motor vehicle with someone who was texting and driving
- Over 1 in 5 have received a mean or bullying text message from another kid on their mobile phone
- Almost half (46%) have a friend who has received a message or picture that their parents would not have liked because it was too sexual
Does that scare you, too? If you are unsure that you've covered all the bases regarding your child's cell phone, I encourage you to use some of the free resources offered by AT&T. From learning what other families are doing through videos, or downloadable tip sheets, the website at http://www.att.com/familysafety has a wealth of information available to anyone who is interested.
- 69% have answered a call from an unknown number
Want to learn more and have a chance to win prizes? There will also be a Twitter event on Friday, Nov. 9th at 2pm EST. The hashtag is #ATTMobileSafety, and here is the Twtvite for more information: http://twtvite.com/attmobilesafety.
Good luck with teaching your kids, and don't be afraid to be their parent. That's what you're there for!
*I’m partnering with The Motherhood and AT&T to bring you information on mobile safety for kids.
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