Teens And Cell Phones - Part 1
Hi there!
This month we are going to address Teens and Cell Phone.
It will help answer some of the questions you may have regarding cell phone use.
You may be asking, is there an appropriate age to provide your child with one?
But the more important question is, is your child ready for a cell phone?
One way to decide is to let your teen tell you why they think they are ready. Ask your teenager straight up: “Do you think you are ready to have a cell phone?” See how they answer. Can they give legitimate reasons, or do they give a weak answer like, “Because I am the only one who doesn’t have one!” Use this question to launch a conversation that goes much deeper. Ask your teen, “Tell me how you are ready to have a cell phone.” This will get to the heart of the matter.
See if they are able to identify some positive and negative aspects to cell phones.
For example, ask them if they’ve noticed families in restaurants where both the parents and the kids are on their phones, not engaging in conversation with one another. See if your teen can identify things that are being lost by cell phone use. Ask what are some of the good memories they have from family dinners? How is face-to-face conversation different from texting? What are the benefits, but also, what are the downfalls?
Hold back from sounding judgmental; see if your teen understands the potential pitfalls of cell phone use, and make your decision to give him or her one based on this.
It’s not about asking the right questions. It’s about simply having the conversation.
If you plan time to do that, you’ll likely be very clear on your answer.
I hope this lesson is beneficial!
Online Parenting Class video on Teens and Cell Phones:
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/149146293/197cd9d4ec
Teens And Cell Phones - Part 2
Hey there!
Hope you’ve had a chance to check out the Online Parenting Class video on Teens and Cell Phones!
As parents, I’m sure you have a love-hate relationship with cell phones. They provide access to your children and allow you to monitor your teen’s location, but also pull your children away from you and expose your kids to things they otherwise would be protected from. But did you know cell phones can also be used as a parenting tool? Once you’ve surrendered to the reality that your child is mature enough to have a cell phone, it’s important to equip them with how to handle cell phone use maturely. Rather than talking to your teen about a long list of rules, talk with them about the benefits and the pitfalls of having a cell phone.
For example, talk with your teen how cell phone use impacts older generations. What does your teen think grandparents must think about kids who are always texting on their phone and never talking to people face to face? How do they think their own grandparents view cell phones? How should teens—and their parents—handle cell phone use at family dinners to respect this generation?
Or, ask your teen how much their friends are on their phones and how they think this impacts friendships. Steer the conversation carefully to a point where you can ask, “If that’s how most kids are with their phones, how are you going to be different?” See how your teen answers. If their answers aren’t demonstrating they are at a maturity level to handle the responsibility of a cell phone, maybe it’s necessary to put some restrictions on cell phone use and revisit this same conversation in six months. Give your teen opportunities to prove they are responsible with their cell phone and able to self-monitor the time using them.
God designed human beings to be relational, and this is the heart of why your teen is so compelled to connect with people over their phones. This week, don’t forget it’s important to help our children learn this truth; cell phones are wonderful tools, but can never replace live relationships!
As you press on in parenting in a cell-phone-focused-world, please remember we (as the Youth and Parent Resource Team) are here to support you! We care about your family, and about your teen.