If you have a young pre-teen at home, you may already have had conversations about smartphones. Maybe your kid wants a smartphone or you’re wondering when is the right time to give them the opportunity to use such a smart device that’s basically the whole world at their fingertips. This is not an easy decision to make, as it’s, in a way, life-changing. If you want to make a more informed decision, this article can help you!

Observe the Child Before Giving Them a Smartphone

Experts in the area say that it’s very important to observe and know how your child reacts in different everyday situations in order to decide on their readiness. If your kid is relatively on top of things and they don’t get very emotional and upset when something didn’t happen how they wanted it to and if they follow rules in other areas of life, they may be ready for their first smartphone. However, there can still be some great kids that don’t have good self-control or kids that are struggling with anxiety and depression. If this is the case, it’s better to try and postpone their introduction to a smartphone.

The Issue With Smartphones and Kids

Kids can get in a lot of trouble online, especially if they start using social media. Many different kinds of research have shown that the time spent on social media correlates to issues with depression and anxiety. It’s very possible for social media to open up kids to some things in life that they’re not ready for. They also could gain access to imagery that can affect their body image and self-esteem. And although many parents think that this is the norm, now, giving your kids a smart device is actually dangerous. Even if they avoid a certain type of content, they can still see things that aren’t good for them or they can find workarounds and access things you have forbidden them to use/look at.

Start Small if the Child Isn’t Ready

If you’re not sure if your child is ready for such a big step and responsibility, you should start with something smaller than a smartphone. A good way to start is a smartwatch. Most smartwatch options offer basic phone, text, and GPS capabilities. The thing with smartwatches is that you offer your child access to a smart device with a lot smaller reach. They’ll be able to communicate with you but not with anyone you didn’t allow them to connect with. If they use the smartwatch reliably, it may be just what’s needed to be sure that they’re ready for the next step – getting a smartphone.

When thinking of the life of a stay-at-home dad, most would consider the usual – early mornings, park outings, changing diapers, preparing meals, and managing various children’s activities that keep them entertained. However, many fathers that take on a full-time role with their kids also face certain challenges and even stigmas in today’s society. In the words of Steven White, a full-time dad, these are five truths one quickly learns:

Older Generations Don’t Understand Stay-At-Home Fatherhood

It wasn’t that long ago that women would naturally take on the stay-at-home parent role while the father went to work. Although this is a norm that has changed in our modern society, many members of the older generations still find it odd or even shocking. When seeing a father taking their baby out in a stroller, pensioners will often assume that the dad is giving the mom a little break. Learning that the father takes care of the child full-time is often followed by unpleasant remarks.

Kids’ Television Can Be Addictive

Although most modern parents want to minimize screen time for their kids, avoiding TV altogether can be unrealistic. Cartoons and kids’ shows can be a useful distraction at times and a chance for dads to share their favorite childhood cartoons with their children. Just watch out as some of these kids’ TV shows can be quite engaging and you might find yourself obsessed with them too!

Invites to Mom Clubs Are Rare

Stay-at-home dads might feel somewhat alone in their endeavors. It’s not always easy to find dads in the area that are going through the same thing and create a network of mutual support. It’s easy to go out to parks and playgrounds and find well-established mom groups, but most dads find that it’s hard to get an invite to such cliques. It’s still worth a try!

The Difficulties of Soft Play

In White’s experience, many soft play areas are a mom’s domain and a man’s presence there is often met with suspicion. Attempting to prevent rough play or to intervene in any way will commonly have mothers running over to pick up their children and take them farther away from the strange man in the play area, even though it’s just a dad with their child.

All About Work

In this dad’s experience, many will assume that a father took on a stay-at-home parent role because their career wasn’t going well. This is an assumption many dads likely face as if caring for a child full-time was an easy option compared to the struggles of the workplace. In reality, parenthood can be just as exhausting with the added pressure of doing right by one’s child at all times.