This post is sponsored
by React Mobile. I have been compensated
for this post, and all words, perspectives and opinions are my own.
The big question in my circle is: when should a child have a cellphone?
And surprise, there’s no one answer to this question. Were you looking for one? This is parenting, people. If you are looking for clear answers to parenting
questions then you should not be a parent. The answers are as diverse as there are children
in the world.
Some of my kids’ friends have had cellphones since they were
8 or 9 years old. My kids at 8 and 9
were inherently careless with their stuff, and I knew that they
weren’t ready for a mobile device that needs to be handled with care, updated, charged
regularly and placed properly in its holding place until the next usage. Their electronics at this age were handheld
video game systems and iPods that never left the house.
One reason for giving young kids cellphones is for parents to
keep track of them when they are away from home. Now, look: my kids are usually at home. When they're not, they are at school, at a
school-sponsored activity, or with a trusted adult. Even today they're not out of our sight for
long, and we know where they are headed if they are out alone. On rare occasions we hand them one of our
cellphones and tell them to call when they get where they are going, and
call again when they are on their way back.
As kids grow, the instances of their independence correlate
with their maturity and ability to take better care of possessions. My celebration as a parent who raised youngsters
to take care of electronic devices for more than a month without breaking or
misplacing them was short-lived when I realized that they are spending more and
more time without my protection.
They can wait for me to pick them up.
They can call me when they’re finished.
They can get rides with friends' parents.
They can wander the earth alone.
And this makes me, as a mom, a little nervous. Because I know what’s out there, and it’s not
always friendly.
My son is getting a smartphone this year. When he does, I will be relieved that I
will have a way to contact him reliably.
No more will he have to rely on a friend’s cellphone; he’ll always know
what time it is so he can check in, and we will be able to let him know if we
will be late or if plans change. He’ll
be safer with a cellphone when he’s out and about. I know, I know – welcome to the 21st
century.
But there is an added measure of protection that I’m going
to share with you.
We will be sure to download the React Mobile app onto his
phone, which is a fantastic new tool that can be used to keep track of your
kids using their smartphone. Much more
than a “find me” app, React Mobile is a safety feature that a
smartphone user can activate if they are alone in a place where they
don’t feel totally comfortable.
You enter in your contacts, turn on the Follow Me option, and your contacts are alerted if you need them. Or if you want them to know where you are. Or if a mom wants to know where her son is.
Parents can use the app to track their child's position in real time as they move from place to place. Say my son is going to the high school football game, then getting a ride from a friend’s mom to the local pizza shop for a post-game hangout. He can send me a text through the app to let me know where he's going, and after he activates the Follow Me option, the app shows me in real time (using Google map info and his phone's GPS) that he is where he says he is, and when he taps the "I'm Safe" button, I know that he is okay.
The React Mobile app can also be activated (Send SOS) if he finds himself in a dangerous situation. He can use the app to alert me and any of his
emergency contacts (including an automatic option to call 911) that he needs immediate
assistance. The app will provide all his emergency contacts with the alert and his location, which is vital information for the authorities, not to mention any worried parent.
The React Mobile app is a tracking device, a lifeline, and an
alert system all in one, and the best part is that it’s free. Okay, that's not the best part. The best part is that it gives me peace of mind when my child goes off into the world by himself. But it’s still pretty great.
And it’s the first thing that is going on his new smartphone. I think we’re both ready for it.
*******
Download the React Mobile app for free:
Google Play (available on select smartphones):
https://play. google.com/store/apps/details? id=com.reactmobile.lite
https://play.
*******
I think this is an awesome app. Totally great for peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I really like how it works. It's very easy.
DeleteWow. Making note of that one for when my eldest gets a phone!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea for adults, too. Especially if you're going anywhere alone!
DeleteI would pin this for when Kidzilla gets a phone but A) I'm pretty sure the tech will be obsolete by the time she gets one and 2) the Fab Hub will probably never let her out of his sight anyway, so it's moot. But seriously, this is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI think it is! It's a good way to track other things, too. My husband drives a long way to work and if he sets the Follow Me option then I know where he is and I don't worry about him trying to call me from the car, especially when he's coming home at night.
DeleteHow did our parents stand it when they had to wait for us to call from public phones? I never thought anything of it growing up. They just let me loose and hoped for the best, I guess. Then again, I was the easy child - never missed a curfew, never snuck out of the house. Maybe they got over their nerves with me before my wild child sister got to be a teenager.
ReplyDeleteI'll never forget when my mom was late picking me up and I got a friend's parent to drive me home. She wasn't at home, but showed up later, scared out of her mind. She had gone to pick me up and I wasn't there!
DeleteThis sounds really helpful. I would probably look into an app like this when my oldest is ready for a cellphone. He, of course, is waiting not-so-patiently for that day to arrive. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a hard decision for parents to make for sure. I just got a new phone so I will be loading it on!
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