Parents in the digital age have long struggled with the question: “When will my child have their first cell phone?” Sure, staying connected with your child is important, but browsing social media and extending screen time will make the decision more difficult.
Despite their concerns, guardians were generally supportive of their children’s connection.One recent survey Surveys from Cricket and OnePoll show that 70% of parents believe their children have technology, and two-thirds have parental controls over all of their children’s devices. Additionally, 6 in 10 tutors believe technology is beneficial to children’s social skills. However, regardless of support, each family’s schedule is different.
phone readiness quiz
Fortunately, cell carriers and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)—the leading professional association of pediatricians in the United States—have not ignored the fight for parents.This summer, AT&T and AAP released their phone readiness quiz Give parents peace of mind when deciding to connect their kids through their first cell phone.
Guided by pediatric experts with parents in mind, the tool asks tough questions about whether their kids are ready to take on the responsibility of owning their own phones. Evidence-based questions range from assessing your child’s behaviour and developmental maturity to your family’s values and attitudes towards screen time and technology use. Some questions include:
- How often does your child need a phone for safety, such as after school?
- Does your child behave responsibly, including completing schoolwork?
- Are you ready to take steps to manage your child’s use of technology?
The questionnaire is designed to answer two questions for parents: If your child is ready to call and If you’re ready to let them have one. The answers don’t always add up, so taking the pulse can help caregivers and children make the best decisions for their individual circumstances.
After answering ten questions, parents will be placed in one of three areas to indicate their readiness: zone readyThis area is almost readyor not ready. When ready, the tool will recommend next steps for parents to manage their online safety, such as instructions on how to set screen time and parental control restrictions for new kids online.
Home Media Plan
A survey by Cricket and OnePoll found that 70% of parents said they would be happy to provide their children with smart devices if they understood how to use them safely and effectively.To address this issue, in addition to the PhoneReady questionnaire, AAP’s interactive services Home Media Plan Helping parents and children work together to develop a personalised strategy for managing technology use – which is becoming increasingly important when dealing with the peak of screen time caused by the pandemic. Features include:
- Specific advice for young children
- Reflection activities and practical advice to help families address issues related to media use
- Additional resources, such as a “tutorial” for configuring smartphone security settings
Using these tools to develop a home media plan can align parents and children to ensure everyone has safe and positive access to their technology and new ways to connect. Overall, these tools emphasize maintaining open communication within the home and understanding how to build healthy relationships with technology and media.
These joint AT&T-AAP advances in digital equity and parenting understanding are AT&T eLearning Initiative, which includes investing $2 billion in digital literacy tools, educational resources, broadband technology, low-cost internet services, computers, and more to help young people in and out of the classroom.
Next steps for caregivers
Parents and caregivers who want to learn about the next steps for their family can take the free PhoneReady quiz. AAP’s pediatrician-approved family media planning tool is also available to all parents, whether they’re contacting their child for the first time or setting healthy boundaries in their currently connected family.
Image Source: Jessica Lewis Creative Photography; Pixel; thank you!