“The
phones are in the classroom, so you might as well use them.” Jeff Utecht
I’ve often wondered when I ought to get phones for my kids. I know that having a smartphone will be necessary for them at some point, but I’m not sure exactly when is appropriate. Of course, doing a quick Google search on “When should I get my kid a phone?” leads to many differing opinions, although according to this source: https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/when-should-children-get-cell-phones-2/#:~:text=The%20average%20age%20kids%20get,begin%20at%20a%20young%20age most kids get their phones between the ages of 12-13. Here’s another article that suggests most kids have their first phone by age 6. https://abc13.com/study-cell-phones-kids-with-phone-what-age-should-i-get-my-child-a/636328/
A search about phone safety for kids reveals that there are numerous risks, including increased bullying, earlier sexual activity, higher rates of suicide, and more. But having useful tech is essential to normal functioning in today’s world. I absolutely love the movie “Mean Girls” and have a copy of the first edition of the book Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman. This led me to the website of the organization she founded, Cultures of Dignity, and I found these resources: Resources: Tiny Guides - Cultures of Dignity.
What this all brings to mind is that we are living in a world where a lot of the bullying that happens these days occurs on phones and social media. We know that we want our kids to have access to the good things that current tech brings, connectivity and information, but there are some very real concerns and valid concerns about how to navigate these spaces. I don’t have any answers, but my daughters are ages 9 and 11 so my husband and I are going to need to figure it all out pretty soon. Yikes!
As teachers, we have an obligation to inform our students about internet safety and social media footprints. The challenge for me is that I know children’s brains are much more impulsive than adult brains. The cool thing to do can seem like a great idea to a young student, never mind that it may prevent them from getting a job in 10 years.
Please comment if you've got any bright ideas you'd like to share!!
Rachel, I 100% understand your hesitancy about giving smartphones to your kids/how to teach them to navigate the technology safely. It's a scary time to be a parent when kids have the world in their pockets. I had a "dumb" phone grades K-12, but I know even without the world in my pocket I still accessed things on the internet I shouldn't have on the shared desktop computer (incognito mode) or through friends' devices. I think some of the best things parents can do would be to learn about this tech with their kids. Also, and I have no idea how to do this with teenagers, just being someone they can trust is important. Google can answer a lot of questions, but it gets dangerous when kids like me would google "am I pretty?" or try to navigate normal insecurities and social issues as they grow up. I think when kids feel comfortable talking to their parents, they are less likely to be mislead or depressed through social media.
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