Talking to your kids about their first cell phone

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Is a cell phone on your kid’s Christmas list this year? If a cell phone is under the tree this year, there are some things you can do to make sure they use it responsibly.

Margaret Canter is a Clinical Psychologist for the Department of Pediatrics at UAB. She said your kids should know that having a cell phone is a privilege, and not a right.

She said if you’re setting rules and limitations, be transparent about what they look like.

“Where y’all write it out and sign it as a contract, ‘This is what’s happening, and if you violate these rules, you lose your phone’ and what that looks like,” said Canter.

Canter recommends putting a password on the phone so you can get into it. She said it’s not because you don’t trust your kids, but for safety reasons.

“It’s kind of like a nice out for the kids. If someone asks them to do something, or wants them to look at something that’s not appropriate. They can say, ‘Oh I’m sorry, my parent or caregiver checks my phone.’”

Canter also says to make sure your kids feel comfortable enough to come to you if they see something questionable online, or sent to them.

“If they ever see anything when they’re on their phone, or someone sends them something that they have questions about, they can come to you. And if you don’t know the answer, then you can look it up and get back to them.”

There are also third-party apps you can download to limit your child’s time of certain apps, or monitor how they are spending their time.

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