How to Keep Your Phone Childproof
For many children, their parents’ cell phone seems to have become just one more toy. Yes, it’s true that smartphones can be a great source of educational entertainment for kids. However, let’s be honest, curious kids have the uncanny ability to find inappropriate applications and websites. In this sense, it’s important to keep your phone childproof.
In addition to this, dirty fingers, spilled juice, and accidental drops may considerably reduce your device’s life! Before you give your phone or tablet to your children, it’s best to follow these tips to keep your cellphone safe, and also your child.
Buy a sturdy case to keep your phone childproof
First things first – invest in a durable protective case to keep your phone safe from accidental drops and spills. Look for a case that’s waterproof in case your phone accidentally falls into water, such as a bucket of water or a toilet.
You’ll also need to make sure it covers the back, sides, screen, top, and everything else related to the structure of your phone. Covers made from high-quality rubber or polycarbonate are usually the most durable to help protect your phone from the inevitable bumps, drops, and scratches that will come its way.
Lock your phone screen
The easiest way to prevent your child from accessing anything on your phone is to lock the screen with an access code, touch ID, or swipe ID. That way, if you leave your phone unattended, your child won’t be able to unlock it unless he or she knows the password.
Set up parental controls
There are phones where you can set up parental controls when you want to let your children have your phone for whatever reason. This allows you to restrict any built-in applications (including YouTube, camera, and music), and disable the option to download or delete applications.
You can also block content such as third-party applications and websites, and disable features such as location-based services. The parental controls are password-protected, so your child won’t be able to change them.
You’ll need to know what types of parental controls your phone has available, depending on the features or brand of your device. Simply follow the user instructions to do this and protect your child from any inappropriate content.
Applications and web tips to keep your phone childproof
Whether you have a young child starting to use your phone or a teenager with their own device, keeping track of all the child- and teen-friendly applications and websites can be overwhelming.
You need to get informed about which websites are best for young children. You’ll also need to keep up with the most popular websites for teens.
Similarly, find apps to track your child’s mobile use and keep a constant eye on children’s apps. This will help keep your children safe when they have the device in their hands.
Your cell phone isn’t a toy
In today’s society, children are easily bored. They get confused and look for quick alternatives to keep themselves amused, such as television, video games, or cell phones. They confuse cell phones with a toy and, in reality, they aren’t toys at all.
Phones aren’t toys and shouldn’t be considered as such. As strange as it may sound, it’s actually important that children get bored! Why do we say this? Simply so that they use their imagination and creativity and invent games or activities that they can do. Although children’s desires and interests have changed, parents should always be their guides.
It’s true that the way parents educate their children has also changed from previous decades. However, we must always keep good parenting in perspective so that children become healthy and emotionally-balanced adults.
Cell phones aren’t toys, nor should they be seen as easy entertainment. They’re only communication devices. Yes, they’ve become essential items for us, but we must ensure they’re put to good use.