Most of us will remember seeing the advertisements a few years ago reguarding phones that were very basic, and could only call 4 numbers. No I'm not talking about the over priced JitterBug that you bought grandma, I'm reffering to the "child friendly" phones. Turns out the phones were not so child friendly, as the kids wanted more functionality out of their phones. Mom and Dad want the phones for saftey, and the kids want the phones as a status symbol, the use the internet, text and picture message their friends. Where is the happy medium?
The child phone was very gimmicky just like the JitterBug. These phones preyed on parents worst financial nightmares of their irresponsible little monsters running up the bill with calls to china. The solution is very simple. Under the security settings in almost all phones, you can set options to make the phone "child friendly". The options like only allowing calls to numbers from the contact list, then locking the contact list from being edited. Most cellular carriers make mobile to mobile calling within their network available on their plans. You set the numbers on their contact list that are going to be free for them to call, and allow them to go at it. To begin to teach you children responsibility establish rules for the phone use. Such as not using it after a certain time, being respectful of others while you are on it, and getting your chores done. Once the children prove that they can follow the rules with the phone, teach them to be responsible with the minutes. Give them between 1 to 3 numbers that are not free calling. Alot them a set number of minutes that they may not exceed to these numbers. After 2 months if they were able to meet the restrictions expand the list more. The first time they break a rule, you lock the phone down again. You need to show them that you are serious about being responsible. You should also be blocking items like text messaging, data usage, and downloads. Unless you pay for a package to allow the use of text messaging. Text messaging is not a bad idea, expecially because it will allow your kids to communicate with other people that they would normally use minutes to. Do not use a low text pack. You need no less than 1,000 txt, and if your child is on Instant Messaging applications fequently on the computer you should get the unlimited text package. This will allow you to purchase a phone that will make them happy, and you can rest easy knowing you won't end up with a several thousand dollar bill.
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