Don't want to gift your child with a cell phone? These are some alternatives

As technology advances, the reality of children owning a cell phone also increases. The fear of parents is to present their children with a smartphone and then lose control over the little ones. However, setting limits on how to use it is one of the pieces of advice from Will Gardner, director of UK Safer.

Read more: If you are afraid of being without your smartphone, it could be nomophobia

With the increase in technology, the use of mobile devices increases significantly among children.

Check now the alternatives for you to decide whether or not to present your child with a smartphone:

1. How to know if your child is ready

To clarify this issue, it is important to consider your child's maturity. For this, answering some questions can help you.

• Who started the cell phone conversation? You or your child?
• How responsible is your child?
• How will your child deal with the time of using the device?

There are no rules on how to act, but these questions may help you.

2. Different options of a smartphone

You can also present your child with a simpler device. Cell phones that send messages and make phone calls are a good option to introduce technology into your little one's life.

Another gadget that might be a little better is a smart watch. With it, your child can send messages, make calls, use the GPS and some applications.

3. If you have already given him/her a phone number

If you've already given your child a cell phone and you're still concerned about the content they consume, there's the option of the Bark and Qustodio apps that allow you to block some specific websites.

There are also other applications that allow you to monitor cell phone usage time. In this way, the possibility arises for you to limit addictive content.

The best option will be a good conversation between father and son to establish limits and to define how both can help each other so that there is an evolution over time.