LIFESTYLE | parenting Womanthismonth.com 40 March 2024 The problem with phones is that they are so incredibly necessary. Want to limit your kid’s sugar intake? It’s doable, just keep candy out of the house. Want your kids to lead an active lifestyle? Also, doable; just enroll them in a fitness or dance class that they’re interested in. Want to keep them away from mobile phones? Well then, they can’t do their homework, check in with social groups, or text or call you, ever… and the list goes on. Unlike my first mobile phone, a flip phone that could only send and receive a few texts a month, phones are so advanced now that they come with an ever-changing, unique set of problems that can seem overwhelming for already stretched-thin parents. You could read all the texts on your teen’s phone and still not know what they’re up to if you didn’t check WhatsApp or their TikTok DMs. And that’s assuming you even know the right apps-of-the-moment to look at. Not to mention, the act of going through their phone in the first place could be seen as a huge breach of trust by your kids. After all, you wouldn’t demand to read their private diaries, so is a phone any different? What’s a worried parent to do? Should parents check their child’s phone? The answer is complicated as it depends on the situation. You need to consider several factors, including age, whether going through their phone is a part of your family agreement when they received their phone, and if they will be present while you go through it. With technology comes some amount of risk, and going through a child’s phone can help kids navigate this responsibility safely. It’s important for parents to be clear on their intentions before going through their child’s phone, it’s one thing to be on the lookout for potential risk factors, and quite another to seek out your child’s secrets through confidential texts with friends. Luckily, there are ways to develop safe boundaries for parents and kids, but it may take some trial and error. Here’s what you can do: 1. Start with communication and listen to their input. The most respectful way that a parent can go through their child’s phone is by practicing open communication. 2. Children should be made aware when they get their first phone, that their parents may go through their phone from time to time. Parents can emphasise that the reason they are going through their phone is because safety is important to them and that they want to teach their children to be good digital citizens. The rise of all things digital can have its perks, but also adds a fresh concern for parents. Woman This Month Parenting Columnist, Ouiam El Hassani, shares her thoughts on when it’s acceptable to go through your kid’s phone. Making the Right Call
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==