The easiest thing to do, but the worst thing to do, is to put your child at the mercy of the most global world imaginable by putting him or her on a smartphone. After all, games can be offered to kids in other, now very sophisticated electronic ways (such as game consoles) without necessarily having built-in wifi, and calls can be mediated by push phone. If you still feel that your, say, first-grade child simply must have a “touch screen,” think carefully beforehand about how you will set boundaries.
Believe me, a child this early in life will quickly become not only proficient at operating a new smart device, but disproportionately dependent on it. Smartphones provide a lot of fun and easy stimulation, if only because they are not at all conducive to proper brain development. If the emphasis is on keeping in touch with the new child and entertaining him or her with the occasional game, then there is no need to give them a cell phone from morning to night, but to return it to their parents after school. Or allow them to use it two or three times a week. This will also train patience (for the child, but also for you, so that you don\’t break easily under persuasion)
Practical protection
In addition to antivirus programs (which also protect software), an important element of protection is the use of inappropriate content blocking programs, which not only block access to negative sites, but also eliminate unwanted advertisements. Some programs can be configured to block content based on the language you specify. The best and most effective programs are usually paid, but completely free programs can also be effective. They are among the first things you should install on your smartphone to protect your children. As for the calls themselves, it\’s up to you to decide what form you prefer, prepaid card or plan, but in any case, again, set boundaries by regularly checking how your child is handling calls, to whom, and when. Don\’t assume that you are over-monitoring your child just because he or she understands and voluntarily complies with all of your initial explanations. Young children especially need your guidance in this sensitive area. This leads to communication, an essential component of protection. Depending on the age of your child, it is important to talk regularly about the dangers and risks of the Internet and social networks (which should not be accessed by any child under the age of 15). There is a danger that children will learn most things from their friends too early, which is not ideal. Also, remember to regularly show a positive interest in how your children are using their cell phones, what new things they have learned or discovered, and what games they like to watch together. A positive attitude will discourage the child\’s desire to taste the forbidden fruit and, moreover, build the right attitude toward modern technology.
