1. Talk about it
It may easily happen that you have a different idea about the appropriate handset than your child who usually dreams about the coolest smartphone available. The rich feature set of such high-end handsets would never be fully used by them, and cost-effectiveness is also an important requirement. An entry-level mobile phone offers ample functionality for a child and you won’t suffer much financial damage if it is lost or broken. To prevent disappointment, it makes sense to discuss the purchase in detail and prepare for countering your child’s emotional arguments with rational ones. A good deal can be to agree on a budget and check all fitting handsets assessing their features, functionality compared to individual preferences. If the dream handset costs slightly more than the budget and your child has some pocket money, you can give them the option to make up for the difference.
2. Large display
When choosing a handset, check the display first. This is what your child will be staring at for several hours a day if the handset is used for digital education. Hold it in your hand and test it. Is the display large enough, does it offer adequate visual comfort with a high resolution and no flickering? It is very useful if a mobile phone offers large storage for apps, photos and videos, has a high-quality camera and a 3.5” audio jack for a headphone. In terms of size, young schoolchildren need a compact mobile phone that is easy to carry and use and is less likely to be dropped. For teenagers, high picture quality for the front camera is an important criterion, as well as a reliable speaker and microphone for online education.
3. Stay by their side
It is a common dilemma to decide at what age your child should get their first mobile phone. There is no silver bullet, as needs and circumstances vary by family, but it should definitely be a joint decision and your child’s mobile phone use should be managed responsibly. Perhaps the most common misunderstanding is when a parent assumes that being a digital native, their child will be proficient in using smart devices. In the same way as you wouldn’t allow a young child to walk in the city alone, you should hold their hands also when wandering in the digital world.
It doesn’t mean that you should spy after them, of course, because if they feel untrusted they may turn secretive. You should discuss the authenticity of internet content with them and help them learn manage new information in a critical way. You can find useful assistance for that on the TudatosNet page of Hipersuli. The main point is that if they come across inappropriate content or have a negative experience in the online space, you should be their first choice to talk to.
4. Online communication instead of voice calls
You should bear in mind that, rather than making traditional voice calls, schoolchildren prefer to use the internet as their primary means of communication. Try to find them a 4G-ready handset supporting comfortable internet use and combine it with a tariff plan including mobile internet.
Designed for the needs of children aged 6 to14, the Telenor Junior tariff focuses on mobile internet including a data allowance of 5GB at an attractive price. And if the tariff is used together with HiperGroup service and parents are also members of the group, they can all make an unlimited number of free calls to each other any time. But before you give your child internet access, educate them on online safety.
5. Some control is essential
When you buy your child’s first mobile phone, clarify some basic rules including allotted screen time or zero night-time usage. Show your child how to use essential programs (chat, e-mail, browsing) and the features they should first ask their parents about. Don’t ban things by default but discuss the risks associated with specific pages. You can also use Family Link to restrict unwanted content which is a prerequisite for creating a Google account for a child younger than 13.
+1 tip: If your child is not ready for using a mobile phone yet
If you want keep your youngest ones safe and reach them anytime and anywhere without a mobile phone, a children’s smart watch is an ideal choice for you. The MyKi Touch and MyKi 4 lite models available from Telenor have built-in GPS to track your child’s location who can send an alert to you by pushing the emergency SOS button on the watch. When this button is pushed, the device calls two preset numbers automatically. If combined with the Telenor Mini tariff plan, young users can also make unlimited calls to two numbers to keep in touch with their parents anytime.
Telenor recommends Moto E6 Play featuring a 5.5” display and 32GB of internal memory (upgradable to 256GB) as an ideal first mobile phone. This handset is easy to use both for learning and entertainment. |