Tips for parentsA smartphone to start school - a good idea?
Is my child old enough to have their own smartphone?
Many parents want a clear answer to this question in terms of age. However, rather than looking at the age, it makes more sense to look at the child's stage of development.
With the klicksafe checklist "Is my child ready for their own smartphone?", parents can check alone or together with their child whether they are ready for a smartphone. The more points on the checklist you can tick, the sooner your child is ready for their own smartphone. We recommend that parents discuss the outstanding points with their child in detail.
If parents take the new school year as an opportunity to buy their child a smartphone, they should first find out about the school's rules on bringing and using smartphones. Some federal states have issued basic rules on smartphone use in schools, while in other federal states each school makes its own arrangements. Parents should therefore make sure that their child is aware of whether a smartphone or smartwatch may be used at school and what rules apply.
How can I make smartphones childproof?
There is no such thing as complete protection against negative content and experiences when using a smartphone. Nevertheless, it is highly advisable to make full use of the possibilities offered by technical protection measures .
In our topic area, we give parents an overview of the basic functions of parental control programs. We also explain why technical solutions cannot replace child-oriented and dialog-based media education.
Parents can find clear step-by-step instructions on how to set up devices and individual apps safely at www.medien-kindersicher.de.
In the video series "mobil & safe", together with mobilsicher.de, we provide information in ten videos on how to set smartphones securely. There are also tips on the correct settings in various apps and messengers.
What rules are important for smartphones?
With a smartphone, children potentially have access to the entire internet. In addition to all the exciting and entertaining things, this also includes a whole range of harmful or dangerous content. It doesn't make sense to wait until the first problems occur. Rather, parents shouldtalk to about possible dangers in advance and point out options for action. Due to the wide range of risks(cybergrooming, cyberbullying, hate speech, fake news and much more), not all issues can be clarified in a single conversation. Parents must therefore be prepared to stay in constant communication with their child in order to monitor their online activities. To avoid constant discussions about smartphone use in families, jointly drawn up rules can help. The following materials provide parents with further useful tips.
With the Flyer for the media usage contract families can individually determine which media may be used when and for how long. The flyer is available for download or as a print version for ordering.
The brochure "The first smartphone - how can I protect my child from sexual violence on the internet?" helps parents to deal with the risks of sexual assault at an early stage. The brochure is available to download or order as a print version.
Are smartwatches a good alternative?
Some parents are not sure whether their child is ready for their own smartphone. In this case, a smartwatch can seem like a good middle ground. This is because, unlike smartphones, they often do not offer comprehensive access to the internet. Depending on the device, the functions are limited to making calls and writing messages. There are now also some models that are marketed specifically to children (or their parents). Parents can set up these devices individually. For example, they can decide which numbers their child is allowed to call.
Whether a smartwatch is a sensible alternative also depends on why the child wants a smartphone. After all, a smartphone is much more than just a communication device. Without a smartphone, children miss out on what happens in the class chat. They can't have a say when it comes to the latest mobile games. And last but not least, a smartphone is also a coveted status symbol. Parents should discuss with their children what purpose a smartphone should fulfill in their child's life. They can then consider whether a smartwatch offers a sensible alternative.
One critical aspect of smartwatches is that they allow parents to monitor their children. Smartwatches are usually equipped with a GPS tracker. This allows parents to see where their child is or which route they have taken. In our Smartwatch topic area we provide detailed information on what parents should consider when equipping their child with a smartwatch.
