Is your child ready for a smartphone?

If you’re a parent of a tween or teenager, chances are you’ve been told they ‘need’ a smartphone to keep in contact with friends and to be part of the social media world.

In a study published in 2015 by Research New Zealand, 70% of Kiwis, and 91% of people aged 18–34, owned or had access to a smartphone, so it’s a fact, smartphones are a big part of our lives.

There’s no right age for your child to get their first smartphone, and it’s a decision only you can make. So, before you take the plunge and buy your child a smartphone, here’s our top questions to consider:

1. Are they good with their possessions?

Buying a smartphone is expensive and not something you want to do often! If your child loses things easily, will they be any different with their smartphone?

2. Do they understand the wide reach of the internet?

Anything your child posts on social media is potentially available for anyone to see. Photos from nights out, private photos sent to friends; once an image is on the internet it’s very hard for it to be permanently deleted.

Does your child understand that not everything on the internet is real?

We’ve all seen and laughed at botched Photoshop images and realise that it’s very easy to alter an image. We’re also aware that social media feeds are usually carefully curated to only show a very onesided point of view. But does your child realise this? And do they know how to tell if their ‘friends’ are really who they say they are?

4. Is your child already addicted to another screen?

If you struggle to get your child off their computer or game console, chances are it’s going to be the same with a smartphone.

5. What’s your own use like?

Are you addicted to your smartphone or device? If so, you have most likely been modelling this behaviour to your child. How are they going to be any different?

6. How does social media affect your moods?

Do you post photos on social media and wait for likes and comments? If no-one comments on your photo, how does that make you feel? And what about all the glamorous holiday photos your friends post and the ‘look at me’ moments freely available online? If your moods are affected by social media, chances are your child’s will be too. Although it may not be a popular choice with your child, consider buying a ‘not-so-smart’ phone which can be used for texts and calls only.

Children need to be active and eat healthily to live well. Just like adults, children can sometimes be fussy about new flavours and textures, and at times may eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You can help your child develop healthy eating habits by providing them with lots of healthy foods and letting them choose what they would like to eat and how much they want to eat.

Try to:

Try to avoid:

• having takeaways – preferably not more than once a week.

• bribing your child with treats or rewards or forcing them to eat when they don’t want to.

• encouraging constant eating – try to develop a routine and keep to specific meal and snack times.

Providing a variety of foods

To be healthy and grow well, there are 4 main food groups which provide a variety of fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals. Children need all of these. Choose a variety of foods from the 4 following groups every day:

• vegetables and fruit

• breads and cereals

• milk and milk products

• lean meats, chicken, seafood, eggs, legumes (ie, cooked dried beans, peas and lentils), nuts and seeds.

Choosing the right serving size

Make sure your children’s meal sizes are smaller than yours (your child doesn’t need to eat as much as you). Encourage your child to eat slowly, so that their stomach has time to tell them when it’s full of food. When they are full, let them stop eating – they don’t need to finish everything on their plate!

Limiting foods high in sugar, fat or salt

Fussy eating is normal in young children and quite common – however, usually, your child will eat if they’re hungry. You might have to offer your child a new food 8 to 15 times, or even more before they will try eating it.

Let your child choose the amount of food they eat – make mealtimes exciting and relaxing rather than stressful or rushed. Consult your GP if you are concerned about your child’s fussy eating or they are failing to thrive.

Food allergies and/or intolerances affect about 4–8% of children, however, a lot of children will outgrow these in time. If you’re ever unsure – consult your GP, practice nurse, public health nurse.