JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – For children holiday time means loads of free time on their hands, and many will turn to their handsets for keeping in touch with friends and to keep busy.
According to cellphonesafety.co.za many parents will also be concerned about their children’s cellphone habits during the silly season. These very legitimate concerns could include:
Additional time available for cellphone usage, and no enforced periods of cellphone ‘isolation’ when the child is at school, resulting in soaring airtime costs due to increased usage.
Adequate supervision of what the child is accessing via cellphone and the influence of the child’s friends and other people on the child with regard to cellphone content, internet browsing and social networking.
While these may be legitimate concerns, it’s always important to remember that during the holiday period, a cellphone might save a life. When used responsibly, your child’s cellphone is essential for his/her safety and security.
Here are some guidelines and safety tips by cellphonesafety.co.za
When supervising your child’s cellphone “festivities”, make sure to not increase your child’s airtime budget too much during the holidays.
It is also advised to block adult sites by contacting your child’s cellphone service provider in order to activate this function, because boredom and free time are the primary reasons minors visit adult sites.
Insist on cellphone-free time during the holidays, whether at home or away. Children should not be allowed to use their cellphones 24/7, regardless of the fact that holidays are in full swing.
Also ensure that any friends visiting your child are aware of the cellphone rules in your home, whether you are there to supervise or not.
