Safe Cell Phones for Pre-Teens
Although they are a major convenience in our society, cellphones can also be dangerous in the hands of a child who is not responsible enough to have one. Parents should sit down with their children prior to handing them a cellphone to discuss the features associated with the phone, the limitations associated with the phone and general safety precautions to take with one. The more your child knows about her phone -- including what she can and cannot do with it -- the safer she will be.
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Monitoring
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Monitoring your child's cellphone use is one way to make sure he is using it safely by your standards. You can download applications -- such as My Mobile Watchdog -- onto your child's phone, allowing you to monitor her cellphone activity from a computer or a mobile phone with Internet access. With cellphone monitoring services, you can keep track of the text messages your child is sending or receiving, the phone calls he is placing or receiving and the websites he is visiting. You can also block certain websites from the phone and restrict phone use during certain times.
Prepaid Phones
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If you want your child to have a phone only for emergency reasons -- such as being able to contact you at a moment's notice -- purchase a prepaid cellphone that does not feature Internet access. This way, you will know for sure that your child is not accessing websites you deem inappropriate. With a prepaid cellphone, you purchase minutes in advance. As soon as these minutes run out, you will need to purchase more -- either online or directly from the phone provider. Set a limit on how many minutes your child can use per month. If you are the only person you want your child to contact, there is no need to buy an excessive amount of minutes.
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Tracking
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Cellphones can be designed with GPS tracking software installed directly into them, allowing you to keep track of the phone's location as long as you have Internet access. As long as your child has her cellphone with her, you can keep track of her location at all times. Cellphones installed with Guardian Angel and similar forms of technology also allow the phone to be tracked in a moving vehicle. For example, if your child were riding in a car, you could track the direction she was traveling in, as well as how fast she was going. Tracking technology keeps children safe because their parents always know where they are and where they are going.
Common Sense
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Make sure your child know how to use all features on his cellphone before handing it over to him. Program the most important numbers -- such as emergency contact numbers -- using speed dial so your child has to press only one button to get in contact with you. Instruct your child never to give out his cellphone number to a stranger. Set limits on how often your child can use the phone's additional features, such as games or text messaging. Inform your child never to answer calls from numbers he does not recognize. Purchase a protective cover for your child's phone to prevent unwanted damage.
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