Your child's cell phone allows you peace of mind knowing he has a method to contact you in the event of an emergency. However, cell phones can lead to improper or prolonged usage by your child. Setting ground rules for monitoring ensures your child uses his cell phone safely.
Prevalence
Cell phone ownership in children begins as early as age 6, according to C & R Research, an independent research company that conducts research on children's health issues. Seven percent of children ages 6 to 8 own a cell phone while 17 percent of children ages 9 to 11 own cell phones. Cell phone ownership increases as a child reaches the teen years --- an estimated 41 percent of children age 12 to 14 own cell phones while 64 percent of children ages 15 to 17 own a cell phone. This increasing amount of cell phone ownership means there are more children for your child to converse with.
Daily Usage
When allowed to use her cell phone unrestricted, your child may talk on the phone all night --- disrupting family time and meals, according to "Scholastic" magazine. Your child also may sacrifice sleep to spend more time on the phone. For these reasons, you can limit cell phone talk time to designated hours. You can purchase a phone that offers usage controls, meaning the phone is turned off at certain times of day, according to The Times Daily, a Florence, Alabama-based newspaper. If you suspect your child of talking late at night, holding her phone in a neutral place, such as the kitchen, for safekeeping until a designated time.
Education
Establishing a set of ground rules after giving your child a cell phone is important to monitoring cell phone usage, according to the Center on Media and Health. Some examples of rules include "Always answer phone calls from parents" or "Always identify where you are and who you are with." Educate your child on proper and improper uses of the cell phone and establish a clear understanding of consequences that will occur when your child breaks the rules for cell phone usage.
Monitoring Software
In addition to personally monitoring your child's calls, you also can purchase monitoring software designed to protect children against cell phone predators. Examples include My Mobile Watchdog and Mobile Spy, according to CNN. These software programs allow you to create a list of acceptable callers to and from your child's phone. If your child calls a number not on the list or a number not on the list call him you receive an alert. Police utilize similar programs to protect children from predators.
Data Considerations
In addition to monitoring whom your child speaks with, you also should monitor downloads, such as ringtones, games and phone backgrounds, according to "Scholastic." These features not only cost added money, they can contain bugs that corrupt your child's phone. You may wish to turn these download options off on your child's phone or contact the phone company to ensure these orders cannot be made.
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