THEIR FIRST MOBILE

Pre-Paid or Plan?

Pre-Paid

With a pre-paid plan, you pay a monthly fee up front. This gives users a set amount of phone calls, texts and data per month. It can be a good idea to start with a pre-paid plan. This can help you find out what kind of user your child is before you lock into a contract.

PROS OF PRE-PAID ■ Your child can’t exceed the allocation for the month ■ You can manually top up if your child needs extra for that month ■ There are no lock-in contracts ■ They work well with a handme-down phone ■ They teach your child to plan and budget

CONS OF PRE-PAID ■ The cost per call, text and data might be higher than for post-paid plans ■ You need to buy a mobile phone outright ■ Your children may not be able to contact you in emergency situations if they have used all their credit If you decide to go with a prepaid option, it is good to talk with your child about what will happen if they use all their pre-paid credit. Will you pay extra? Will your child pay extra? Will your child be without calls, texts and data for the rest of the month? Post-Paid Plan

With a post-paid plan, you agree to pay a monthly fee for the month’s usage, usually as part of a long-term contract. Often these plans might include unlimited calls and texts but not unlimited data. You might consider getting a plan without data until your child is older and you are confident he or she is a responsible digital citizen. If your child’s plan does not include data, they can only go online when connected to Wi-Fi. This can help them learn thrifty phone habits and avoid using their phone without thinking.

PROS OF A POST-PAID ■ They tend to offer better value than prepaid plans – for example, a $30 monthly payment might include $500 worth of credit for calls, texts and data ■ The phone can be bought as part of the plan

CONS OF POST-PAID ■ It’s easy for your child to overuse the phone and go over the monthly limit. This can result in unexpectedly large bills. ■ Providers usually charge significantly higher rates if you exceed the monthly limit ■ If the phone is lost, broken or otherwise can’t be used, and it is not insured, you still have to keep paying according to the agreed contract. Mobile usage controls

New tools from Apple (pictured) and Google allow control and monitoring of screen time, which apps can be used, and impose content restrictions.

THEIR FIRST MOBILE

BY ASHLEIGH HARVEY

When the majority of RGS parents were kids, there was a pay phone on every corner and mobiles were either not invented yet or were the size of bricks. In today’s world, pay phones have been replaced with smart phones and children are receiving their first mobiles younger and younger.

Today, the average age that a child will receive their first mobile phone is 10.3 years old, according to US marketing firm Influence Central. However, experts agree there is no right or wrong age; rather it is based on your child’s needs and his or her own responsibility or maturity level. Bill Gates famously did not give his children their own phone until they were 14 years old. The Microsoft billionaire remarked that his children received their phones after demonstrating they could exercise restraint and understand the value of face-to-face communication. If you are not sure if your child is ready for a mobile – try asking yourself these questions: ■ How well does your son or daughter take care of their possessions? Can they be trusted not to break or lose their phone? ■ Is your child responsible enough to maintain a healthy online life? Can they be trusted to communicate online or via text message respectfully? Do they understand that anything posted online is forever? ■ Does your child have enough self-control to limit their mobile use? If you set time limits on phone usage, do you think your son or daughter could stick to them? Will they be tempted to use their phone during class or study time?

However, there are many situations where a child needs to be immediately contactable and a mobile phone becomes a necessity. Your child may start catching the bus or spending time home alone, and a mobile phone becomes a safety device.

Whatever the reason, if you have decided that the time is right for your child to receive their first phone, the following factors will need to be considered: What type of phone?

While your child is most likely begging you for the latest smartphone, it is important to understand what types of phones are available and what features they come with. There are two types of phones on the market: Feature phones these phones are very basic and their primary purpose is making calls and sending texts. They are cheaper than smartphones as they have significantly less features. These phones are easy to use and do not typically include access to the internet or a camera. For younger children, these types of phones may be a great introduction to the mobile world. Smartphones these are more expensive and typically include a colour touchscreen, camera and internet access. Smartphones have many features, which is great for older children whose lives and interests are more complex, but with greater technology comes greater risk and responsibility. Smartphones allow children to access social media, purchase movies and music and play games (which often come with hidden purchases).

Remember - whatever phone you purchase, make sure to get a sturdy case for it.

Of course, once the mobile phone is purchased there are a myriad of decisions to be made and conversations to be had – screen time limits, parental controls, privacy settings, app and music purchasing accounts, the exposure to sexual or violent content, protecting personal information, the effect of mobile phones on sleep quality – the list goes on. After all, mobile phones are useful, powerful and helpful. They are also expensive, distracting and a potential gateway to online dangers. It is up to us, as parents and educators, to equip them with the skills and information to become responsible, respectful and resilient digital citizens.