Teens and their first cell phone - Communication only for good

If you have a teen that wants a cell phone there are certain factors to take into consideration when buying them that first phone.

Understanding the purpose of having a cell phone.

When giving your teen a mobile phone the first thing a parent needs to understand is the motivation behind having a cell phone. Is it due to peer pressure and that everybody has one. Will the cell phone be used for making calls, instant messaging, or as a multimedia device? The other question is whether the cell phone is essential for your teen or not. Cell phones for teens have become more of a status symbol or a style statement. Teens often want a cell phone just to fit in with the crowd.

The advantages of a cell phone.

A cell phone is definitely a useful device if used for the right purpose. It will allow you to keep in touch with your teen and in case of an emergency they can notify you and also if there is a delay you can be informed. It will also allow you to keep a watch on your teen and contact them if necessary. This is very useful if your teen has to travel a long way to school or college. It will also be useful if you have to pickup your teen from school or college.

Disadvantages of having a cell phone.

You should watch out for your teen becoming a cell phone bully. Some teens are known to send intimidating messages via SMS to their peers. Teens are also known to use cell phones to cheat in exams and tests. It is mainly because of this that schools and colleges have banned the use of cell phones in exam halls.

You must ensure that your teen’s cell phone does not intrude into your family’s quality time. One way to this is to fix times your teen can use the phone while at home. You should stress on the need for one to one communication with friends without using the cell phone, as this is very important. After all there is nothing like being physically present with friends. This will ensure that your teen is not always glued to the cell phone which is very harmful.

Making your teen responsible.

Your teen should be made responsible for the cell phone that is given to him. You can ideally start by giving your teen a pre paid connection. This will ensure that they manage their finances well and talk within their allowance. This will also ensure that your teen’s cell phone habits will not burn a hole in your pocket.

Teaching your teen mobile manners is also essential. A teen should know when it is rude to accept a call and the basic etiquette to be followed. Personal safety is also another important aspect. Your teen should be told that it is not safe talk on the phone while driving a car or riding a two wheeler. Sometimes even being a co passenger and talking on the phone is not safe. A study conducted by a leading automobile manufacturer has found that a teen is four times more distracted than an adult driver by cell phone use.

Your teen’s first cell phone.

Your teen’s first phone should be a practical phone and not a fancy one just to keep up with your teen’s peer group. You should choose an entry level phone that is rugged enough to suit your teen. An entry level phone will provide functions such as SMS, phonebook, calendar, etc. This will allow your teen to keep in touch with family and friends through messages and calls. You can also encourage your teen to use the built in personal information manager facilities. A phone having a camera, mp3 player a GPRS capabilities is not a starting phone for your teen. A simpler phone is safer as it is not likely to be stolen and will meet the basic communication needs of your teen. You should choose a commonly used phone which is not special and attractive to thieves.

A cell phone is very useful to your teen if used properly. There are more advantages than disadvantages. With proper instructions your teen should be able to use the phone correctly.