Should parents choose a kid-safe phone or parental control app

Is your kid ready for having a phone, but you might be wondering whether to choose a kid-safe phone or a smartphone with parental controls. You dont worry; both options indeed help you introduce technology to kids with specific boundaries. However, in this guide we’ll discuss both solutions wiht their benefits and limitations. We’ll also give you scenario-based guidance to decide which phone to go for and more. Keep reading!

Why choosing a first phone is difficult for parents?

Bringing a first phone for kids isn’t about any financial purchase where you have to just check the right features. Instead, there are many other factors parents should consider, like kids’ age, level of responsibility, safety, screen time, etc.

Smartphones let children stay connected with families, provide educational support, and also serve as an entertainment resource. However, at the same time, their internet access also exposes kids to many safety risks, like stranger interaction, cyberbullying, inappropriate content exposure, etc. Likewise, excessive recreational use may distract kids from studies, affect their sleep and other offline activities.

That’s why choosing the first phone must be about finding the right balance between safety, access & age-appropriate boundaries.

Two ways to create a safer first phone experience

If you’re also deciding to bring a first phone for your kid and wondering what to do, then don’t worry. There are two practical solutions that help you create a safer first phone experience for kids. For instance, you can either choose a device especially designed with safety in mind or go for a smartphone and add parental controls for added protection layer. Let’s dive deeper and have a look at both approaches by weighing their advantages and limitations!

Starting with a kid-safe phone

A kids-safe phone is a special mobile device that blocks social media or other unapproved apps while allowing GPS tracking. It’s indeed especially useful for younger kids or those who aren’t responsible enough to handle unrestricted internet access.

Using a regular smartphone with parental controls

If there are older teens who want broader interent access to help with school, everyday activities, etc., then bringing a regular smartphone is wise. However, before handing them over to kids, you can apply parental controls in agreement with kids to ensure their safety and for your own peace of mind.

How to decide which phone setup is right for your family?

Now the question is how would you decide which phone setup among the above-mentioned two is suitable for your family. Well! For this, you have to understand what your kids’ actual needs are and why they want to get phones. Below are the guidelines based on some situations for better clarification!

• If your younger child mainly needs communication: If you live far away or your kids travel often for school, then having a phone is essential for staying connected. However, in this specific situation, a simple kid-safe phone would be more than enough. This is because it provides calling & messaging features alongside GPS tracking.
• If your child needs school and social apps: On the other hand, besides communication, if your kid also needs school or social apps, then only a smartphone can fulfill the needs. Because here kids can install educational apps, age-appropriate video games, etc and have fun alongside learning.
• If you want to build independence gradually: Likewise, for a child who is ready for freedom but still not mature enough to manage all things responsibly, a regular smartphone with parental controls is suitable. You can apply strict controls at the start and then adjust them based on any change in their habits.

What parents should discuss before giving a child a phone？

However, before giving a child a phone, parents must have a clear talk with kids and create an agreement with the kid about their phone usage. This phone contract should include the following things:

• When phones can be used: You should make your kids agree on when and where they can’t use their phones. For instance, tell them that while having meals, before sleep, and during free time, no phone is allowed. Tell them that they can use their phone only in their free periods after completing all their daily responsibilities, including homework and physical activities.
• Which apps are allowed: Explain to your kids that not all apps available online are safer to use for them. Some even content age-inapproriate content or may redirect them to harmful websites for phishing. That’s why tell them that before downloading any new app, ask an adult or directly come to you.
• Privacy expectations: Likewise, you should teach your kids that never share their private details with anyone online, no matter how friendly it may seem. Such information usually includes their account passwords, private photos, school/home address or family information.
• Location-sharing rules: You should also talk to kids about when it’s essential to share location and whom they can share. Discuss with your kids that the location sharing feature is indeed designed for their safety, not for spying.
• What happens when rules are broken: Last but not least, you should also create accountability so they follow the rules seriously. However, instead of giving any harsh punishment, you can tell them that if they break the rules, their recreational time would further get minimized.

How to make a regular smartphone safer for kids?

To make a regular smartphone experience safer for kids, parents can get help from both built-in or third-party tools depending on kids’ age and needs. For instance;

• Use built-in parental control tools: First of all, parents can start with the controls already available on their smartphones. If it’s an Android phone, you can deploy Google Family Link for managing screen time, content, location, and other features. However, an iPhone comes with the Screen Time feature, letting them effectively manage their kids’ device usage.
• Combining third-party parental controls: However, for added protection, parents can leverage third-party tools like FlashGet Kids. It also comes with advanced features, helping parents practically reinforce agreed boundaries. For instance, parents can block inappropriate apps, manage screen time for individual apps, provide usage reports, etc. Thereby helping them to mitigate online risks and ensure a safe & balanced digital experience for them.

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