Modern children already from an early age, even before they have learned to speak, know how to use mobile phones. And their parents tell their friends and acquaintances about it with admiration. And this is not surprising, because technology does not stand still, so developers make applications even for the smallest children. This also includes tracker for kids. In this regard, people began to wonder if such a hobby is dangerous for the baby. Disputes over how old a child needs their first smartphone have flooded both the Internet and real life. In order to get answers to all questions, you should seek the help of pediatricians and psychologists.
When the baby needs a phone
In the first years of life, the child develops rapidly. He is trying to learn something new, explore the world around him, get to know his native people. The toys that he touches, bites and sniffs help him with this. As well as parents who explain to the baby what he did not know yet.
Virtual reality at this stage of development confuses the baby. Although smartphone manufacturers claim that phones for babies are not only not harmful, but also useful, experts have their own opinion on this matter:
- Until the age of 11, a child does not need a smartphone.
- Until the age of 13, a child does not need a smartphone with Internet access.
If you look at the situation from the other side, then the baby should learn to master the technique. Especially, children at this age need gadgets that have the geo locator app installed.
How to choose a mobile phone for a child
Initially, parents should pay attention to how much time they themselves spend on the Internet. The child is a copy of them, so if mom is on the phone all day, then the daughter will do the same.
At the age of 2, the baby already consciously presses the phone buttons, but he cannot be left alone with the gadget. The best option is for parents to watch cartoons or play educational games with their baby.
The more often a child surfs the Internet, the less trust he has in his parents. A similar problem can make itself felt in adolescence, when trusting relationships cannot be built.
In the event that parents decide to teach a child to use the device, it is recommended to do this no earlier than 4 years and no longer than 1 hour a day. Prepaid phones for kids that has gps for kids installed need to be bought for a kid in elementary school.
The benefits of a smartphone
Modern gadgets have many useful features. Some of them are good for kids too:
- You can download various educational applications, games or books to your phone. It also includes videos and sounds.
- With the help of a smartphone, the baby gets acquainted with new technologies, becomes more developed and educated.
- On a smartphone, you can install apps to find phone, which will help track the location of the child in case of an unforeseen situation.
Through the phone, parents can control the content that the child is viewing. Block unwanted apps and websites.
Harm from smartphone
Scientists from all over the world are studying the harm from mobile gadgets, where there is a phone location tracker, so there are still no answers to many questions. But the problems that parents can face when their children spend a lot of time with the phone in their hands are already widely known:
- Emitting from a smartphone negatively affects the psyche of the child. Children become distracted and suspicious.
- Toddlers may develop a nervous tic: frequent blinking, eye rolling, inadequate head movements.
- Children who spend a lot of time on gadgets often lose coordination. Limbs may stop responding to brain commands in time.
- If a child constantly looks at small inscriptions or objects, then he may develop myopia.
- Your phone screen causes dry eyes, which puts you at risk for inflammation.
- Sitting for a long time with a smartphone in your hands leads to incorrect formation of the spine and its curvature.
Before building kids cell phone plans, parents should remember that virtual reality draws children in, so they stop communicating normally, show irritability and lose interest in reality.
Advice from a psychologist
There are several universal recommendations that all parents should listen to:
- You can not strictly limit the baby from gadgets - a dosed time is enough.
- Instead of the fact that the baby constantly plays games, you can teach him to call or take pictures. All young children should be able to dial their parents or emergency numbers. Modern phones have a gps phone locator with which you can find a child if he is lost.
- The child should not spend more time on the phone than his parents. To do this, you need to interest him and become an example for him to follow.
- It’s not worth much not to let the baby, otherwise he will go into virtual reality, where it is often more interesting than in real life. It all depends on the atmosphere in the family.
The child does not think about how old you should be to get a phone, because he is still too small for this. Therefore, the responsibility lies with the parents.
