Teaching Kids How To Take Care Of Their First Mobile Phone

 

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At some point or another, your child will receive their first mobile phone. Although these things may seem obvious to you, you must teach them to your child so that they learn how to look after the device they have been given. You may want to discuss some of the points below with them before they are given free rein with their new mobile phone. 

Phone cases and screen protectors stay on

Mobile phones are fragile and expensive, so it is crucial that you research good phone cases and purchase a screen protector before giving the device to your child. Have a conversation about how fragile mobile phones are and how much they cost to replace and repair and insist that your child keeps their phone case and screen protector on at all times to protect their device if they drop it. 

Phones must never get wet

Even though some modern mobile phones now claim to be waterproof, it’s best to just keep them as far away from water as possible to prevent damage. Explain how water will damage the device and run through a few scenarios where their phone is at risk of getting wet - for example, when they are in the bath or if it rains. 

Phones carry germs

Researchers from the University of Arizona found that the average mobile phone was ten times dirtier than the average toilet seat - which is gross! We wash our hands multiple times a day, but very few of us remember to clean our phones, allowing them to grow all sorts of bacteria. For this reason, it is a good idea to teach your children ever to put their phones in their mouths, and how to properly and safely clean their phones using alcohol wipes and dry tissue. 

Their mobile phone should always be charged

It’s no good having a mobile phone if it has run out of battery. Try to encourage your child to charge their phone every night so that it has charge to last them through the next day. If they are out and on the go regularly, it may be worth investing in a portable battery pack so that they can charge their phone throughout the day.

Phones are valuable 

Last but not least, you will also need to talk about theft. Having found your child the perfect phone for their needs, it would be devastating for everyone if it were to be stolen.  Phones are valuable and are also easy to steal, so they should never be left unattended or placed in an open pocket of your bag where thieves can easily access them. It is also wise to teach your child to keep their phone out of sight in public places so that they do not draw attention to the expensive object that they have in their pocket. 

Owning a mobile phone is an exciting development for most children and is an important part of growing up - but with a mobile phone comes responsibility. By teaching your children these simple things, you can help them take responsibility for their new device, helping them develop good mobile phone habits that will last them a lifetime.