Parents, technology isn’t the enemy. In fact, when you think about it, it’s a HUGE BLESSING in our lives in so many ways.
Live far away from family? Stay connected easily. Everyone has the stomach flu and you’re out of essentials? One-hour online grocery delivery. Kids can’t learn how to tie their shoes? Thanks, YouTube!
This post is sponsored by Twigby, however the content of this article is 100% my thoughts.
So often we hear of people advocating for a tech-free childhood and for keeping phones out of the hands of children until they’re well into high school.
But parents, that’s a mistake. It’s akin to throwing the baby out the with bathwater. There are lots of benefits to kids having cell phones. Here are six.
Safety at home. Most homes in the US no longer have a landline. This means if your child stays home alone, you’re probably communicating with them via apps like FaceTime, Facebook Kids Messenger, or another service. The problem with this strategy is that none of these apps can call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency, and all will be useless if the power goes out and your wi-fi goes down. A cell phone can be a literal lifeline in the event of an emergency.
Safety away from home. As your child builds independence, they’re spending more time away from you. If they find themselves in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation, they can contact you immediately for help.
Practicality. Even the most well-organized machine gets a wrench thrown in it sometimes. It’s nice to be able to let your kid know you’ll be 15 minutes late picking them up from soccer practice because there’s a traffic jam, or to text your child personally and let them know that they will be going home with someone else after school. When you allow technology into your child’s life, you’ll find it’s a sanity-saver for you!
Social connections. We’re not even talking about the connections that come with social media. Having a cell phone allows your child to be spontaneous, like asking permission to play at the park or go to a friend’s house after school to hang out. When kids don’t have easy connections in their immediate neighborhood, a cell phone allows them to connect quickly with their parents to inform them of a change of plans and give them extra social time with friends.
Peace of mind. Whether you use it frequently to communicate or not, there’s a sense of peace knowing that you can get ahold of your child if you need to. Plus, if you use optional features like GPS you can have the assurance of knowing your child is exactly where they say they are.
Independence and confidence. Children build independence by experiencing it – meaning you have to give them some freedom, which can be uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing. It’s easier for both you and your child to experiment with this independence when you’ve got added assurance of their safety through the use of a cell phone.
Do we believe in being prudent with the amount of freedom you give your child? Yes. Do third graders need unrestricted access to the internet? No. Do we think moderation of tech is important? Absolutely. But just because kids need cell phone limits doesn’t mean they need them abolished. When you consider the rich benefits a child with a cell phone will have on your family, the decision becomes much easier.
I recently got my ten-year-old a cell phone with Twigby after years of saying kids his age were too young. And parents, I can’t tell you how much easier life has become. Scheduling emergencies? Easily solved. Anxiety over safety? Gone. And while he was more than happy to get his own cell phone, what I didn’t expect is how much I love him having one. It’s taken a whole bunch of worries off my plate and made things so much easier.
All for less than $10 a month.
So what are you waiting for, mom? Twigby offers affordable, no-contract plans on a reliable network. They offer data-free options for kids, or data-rich options for the whole family. Bring your existing phone or buy one of theirs – they make it easy! Don’t wait much longer – for a limited time, get 25% off your first six months of service. See how much you can save today!
Once you decide to take the plunge and get your child a cell phone, you’ll be surprised how much you love it, too!
RELATED:
Cell Phone Safety Tips for Kids (with Kids’ Cell Phone Contract!)
Is It Easy to Switch Our Phones to Twigby?
Read more of Kristina’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
