Are You A Mindful Dad? What Age Should You Get Your Kids A Smartphone?
Over the past few years, the number of working couples has risen, changing the household spectrum. The social change has divided the parental responsibility between both parents equally. It is not just one parent taking care of the kids or cooking them breakfast and dinner. Fathers should be equally responsible. They should be aware of the fact that they play an essential role in their kid’s growth.
If you are a father, you will agree that there is a tremendous difference between your relationship with your child and the relationship you shared with your father. It differs widely. One of the main reasons is the change in our society and time. The father-child relationship has evolved with new adventures and duties. Today's familial needs require more response from men as fathers, partners, or husbands.
You cannot just rely on your own childhood experiences because of the changing parental needs. What worked well for your fathers may not benefit your relationship with the kids. Modern fatherhood faces many challenges, and each one of them is a lot difficult than the other.
According to research, “fathers play a crucial role in their children’s emotional, social, and physical and brain development. The type of father you are when they are little will influence them right through to their adult life.” Kids indeed need to have a stable relationship with both parents. But they sure act better and wiser when they are with their fathers. Fathers and their affectionate influence can help the kids build higher self-esteem. Their warmth and acceptance allow the kids to have firm guidance in their accountable life.
Becoming a father is a lot different than becoming a responsible dad. It is a lifetime job that demands your full-time attention and care. As the kid grows old, parents get to spend less time with them. Most of us get concerned about our and with the kids. But a healthy father-child relationship depends on your love and support. However, your role can have a significant impact on your child's life. Let us take a look at how a father's role can help a kid.
· Fathers and Daughters
If you have a teenage daughter, you need to know how much your involvement means to them. Daughters usually seek security and emotional support from their fathers. Many girls try to find a man that has the same qualities as their fathers. If you are a strong and loving father, your daughter looks for someone who can take care of her just like you did. So, fathers should always try to put out their best versions in front of their daughters.
· Fathers and Sons
Unlike daughters, your son will actually follow in your footsteps and try to be like you. They will follow every quality that they see in their fathers. Boys take their fathers as their role model. They try to seek approval and appreciation from a very young age. So, if you are a father to a boy, the first thing that you need to do is to make sure you give them your best. If you show care and love, they will treat others with love and respect. It is how the world works. If you are a loving father, your kid will grow up loving others. However, if a father does not fulfill his responsibilities, children tend to watch other adults and set rules for themselves that can be confusing and emotionally damaging.
· Fathers and kid’s emotional development
Just like mothers, fathers also play a vital role in a child’s well-being. If a father fulfills his responsibilities, the children turn out to be more confident and prosperous. Kids seek support and security from their fathers. A father’s love protects the kids' emotional health. It strengthens self-confidence and helps them grow into responsible adults. However, the absence can cause many emotional injuries for the kids.
How can you improve your relationship with your kids?
There are many ways to improve your relationship with your kids. Some of these ways are below:
Spend quality time with them
One thing that can save your relationship is the bond with your kids. If your child loves spending time with you, it is your golden chance to improve your relationship with them. Spending time with your kids reveals what your child’s likes and dislikes. It can help you strengthens your connection.
Be a role model
Whether you believe it or not, you are a role model for your kids. They look up to you and visualize to grow up and be just like you. It can be the most daunting responsibility. Your daughters grow up knowing their self-worth through your love and respect. Boys grow up to be just like you. So it is necessary that your show honestly, compassion, and responsible behavior in your daily life.
Respect their decisions
If you want to strengthen your bond with your kids, you need to show that you believe in them and they have your trust. Kids, usually during their teenage years, tend to make their own decisions. They are on their journey to explore new things in life and experience new adventures. As a good father, you must make them feel trusted and respected.
There is no denying that parenting kids can be difficult, but if you focus on their safety and well-being, it can solve your issues. You may struggle with different problems and feel emotionally exhausted at times. But, you do not have to worry as there is always a way out. One question that most of the fathers feel responsible for is, “What age should you get your kids a smartphone?”
Well, every parent feels scared when their kids ask to have their own cell phones. It because they are well aware of the dangers that the online world holds for kids. According to Pew Research Center, “the average age is between 12 and 13, but when to get your child a cell phone is a personal decision, and can vary from kid to kid based on maturity and need.”
However, it is indeed a personal decision that depends on you and your family's plans. Most of the parents allow personal phones to their kids during middle school. However, there are certain risks of giving your kids their own smartphones. Some of these risks are:
· The impact on their physical and mental health.
· Responsibility for carrying a device.
· Social media influence.
· Excessive usage and its effects on academic and personal life.
As most parents understand the importance of having a smartphone, you can always keep an eye on your kids using different monitoring apps. It means your kids can have their own devices, and you can let them use them without worrying about the negative impacts. Monitoring apps like XNPSY allows you to keep track of your kid’s online activities. It helps you monitoring their screen time and all other movements to ensure their physical and mental safety.
XNSPY offers many features that can help you provide a safer online environment for your kids. Some of these features are:
Check Call Logs
XNSPY lets you can check the incoming, outgoing, and missed calls. It allows you to check all the information like the time, date, and duration. You can record any incoming call if you suspect anything wrong.
Track Online Activities
You can track all of the internet activities from your child’s phone. XNSPY allows you to see the web browsing history, the bookmarked pages, the exchange email, or anything. This way, you can ensure your child is away from all the inappropriate content online.
Check Social media and other apps
Teenagers mostly spend their time on social apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. With XNSPY, you can check all of these apps. You can manage the screen time so that your kid does not overuse the phone. You can see all the exchanged messages, multimedia files, and much more with XNSPY.
Track Location
You can track the real-time location of your kid along with their location history. It allows you to see all the places they have been in the past hours or days.
XNSPY also offers a geofencing feature for better location tracking. This feature allows you to mark any location on maps and get alerts when their phone is in or out of the marked area.
App Management
You can manage the installed apps on your kids’ phones as well. XNSPY allows you to view, block, or delete any of the apps just with one click. Parents who struggle to manage the excessive and inappropriate use of apps find this feature very useful.