Whether your teenager wants to stay more involved in their social circle, or you want to prepare your child in elementary school for emergencies, there are lots of reasons to buy a child a cellphone. But choosing that cellphone for your child is not the same as choosing a cellphone for yourself; there are special considerations that you need to keep in mind.
The first, and biggest, thing on most parents’ minds when picking out a cellphone for their kids is the number of minutes to buy for them. Of course, you want to make sure that they have the minutes they’ll need to use their phone; but you also don’t want them using their minutes any time they choose, running your costs way up.
Because of this, parents generally find two options that are best for them: a prepaid cellphone, or unlimited minutes. While unlimited minutes may sound dangerous to some parents, they may be just the thing for teenagers that you know will be spending countless hours on their phone. That way, they can use the phone when they want (which they most likely will anyway,) and you won’t have to pay exorbitant costs. A prepaid cellphone on the other hand, can be a great option for parents that do want to limit the use of the cellphone, and don’t want to pay extra fees when minutes have piled over.
So what about the features on your child’s phone; which ones should you be looking for? You’ll have to thumb through them to see which ones are best for your child, but there’s one that you shouldn’t go without – and that’s the speed dial function. You need to make sure that your child can access the most important phone numbers (such as yours!) when they need them the most. If there’s an emergency, the child might not have the time, or the presence of mind, to go flipping through their contact book trying to find your number.
Another large factor to think about when buying a cellphone for your child is the durability of it. While a smaller child will throw their phone around, continually dropping it and maybe even stepping on it, a teenager might not be so careful with their phone either. Not every child will make sure to slip their phone into the pocket of their backpack or purse designated for it, so it’s left to sit at the bottom of the bag, regularly being banged around on the ground and have heavy textbooks on top of it. For this reason, it’s important to get a cellphone that is sturdy enough to handle the task, and won’t break at the first drop. It’s also a good idea to get a skin, slip, or case for the cellphone to give it some added protection.
Lastly, if you already have a cellphone of your own, check with your carrier to find out if they have family discounts. Many will, allowing for more phones to be added for free, or discounted rates on certain numbers, such as family members. After all, if you all need a phone anyway, why not get a good deal on them?