Page 219 - Resources and Support for the Online Educator

Chapter 8 • Tools for Parents

The Ultimate Safety Device:

A “Dumb Phone”

When filters, restrictions, and monitoring don’t seem to be helping your
situation, you could go the extreme route and give your kids a “dumb phone.”
In talking with parents, many claim the need to be able to connect with their
kids either via a phone call or text message. Since smartphones come with
these features but also a host of other avenues of communication, giving your
child a phone with only calling and texting features might be the answer.

However, with the continually increasing smartphone market coupled with the
decrease in cost of those devices, this option may soon be gone. Which leaves
only the ultimate option for keeping your kid safe: not giving them a device at
all. Just know that every action has a consequence, and ultimately, it’s best to
work with your kids on tackling these modern digital problems head-on and
as a team. By choosing to shut out the digital world, you kick the can down
the road to when your child leaves your home and now has access to this
forbidden world—with no knowledge base or wisdom on how to navigate it.

100 Mobile Learning Mindset: The Parent’s Guide to Supporting Digital Age Learners

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