Setting kids' phone limits: 'It's all about how you approach it'
»Play Video
PORTLAND, Ore. – Sean Premo can decide how much his 12-year-old daughter can talk and text.
He can also choose who calls her and when she can talk during the day.
“Little does she know how much power I have right now,” Premo said. “On the fly I can shut my daughter down if needed.”
58 percent of high school seniors said they’ve texted while driving, according to the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
The Pew Research Center said 64 percent of teens with cell phones have texted while in class.
Premo, who manages a Verizon Wireless store, only set a limit on the number of minutes his daughter can use per month. He’s giving her 25.
Verizon and other companies let you set limits for texts and Internet use as well.
Premo can set a clock to block incoming calls or texts during school, dinner or after bed time.
“That phone, when they sit down in bed, is just not going to work,” he said.
Settings allow the phones to lock while a car is moving so teens don’t text and drive. The phone senses when it’s moving at more than 10 mph and shuts down, even in the middle of a call.
Service will restore after the car stops for several minutes, not just at a traffic light.
There are exceptions. The phone can always call 911. Teens can also override the system if they are a passenger or riding a bus. Then parents get a message that says the lock has been overridden.
Premo said he’s going for minimal controls, for now, with input from his daughter.
“It’s all about how you approach it,” he said.
Setting up controls through your phone:
Parental controls offered by phone companies:
Free workshops from Verizon to learn more about how your phone works:
https://vzwworkshops.verizonwireless.com/vzwworkshops/
We're happy with the services provided by Kajeet. Our daughter, now 14, has had her own cell phone since age 10 and our son who is about to turn 10 will get his own too. We're able to set the days and times they can get or receive calls, we control what numbers are allowed and at what times, can monitor who and when they've been in contact with off that list, select the services they may use, and can GPS locate their phone at anytime it's on as well as set up a schedule to locate the phone so we know they're where they say they are or are supposed to be. This system is also a great tool to teach personal responsibility and enforce discipline when necessary.
Â
The cost is reasonable though the limited selection of phones is inconvenient but, the ones they offer are reasonably priced, and there is occasional disruption in service. Their operating system piggybacks off of Sprint but I believe the security set up is excellent.
Â
Two years ago we intervened in a situation where an "allowed" number came into the possession of an ex-con to whom she sent a benign picture despite our education and warnings about such foolishness. We'd not have known of that dangerous conduct without the security system and it was resolved on both ends without the shedding of his blood.
Â
When she's old enough to drive we'll be making adjustments to her time settings although I think it's a good idea and great tech to have the phone shut off while a car in is motion.
How about "Just say NO!" Are you parents or facilitators? Take an interest in your kids' lives, for crying out loud!
These are great features for parents. Sadly there are too few parents and too many breeders. There are also too few adults with common sense. Ultimately I expect there will be controls on all cellular phones that prevent use while driving because people are too selfish, self-centered, and irresponsible to control themselves. A cell phone is not an essential human appedage that must be constantly in use but a lot of people seem to think so. The rest of us are constantly at risk of some idiot texting, talking, or surfing and plowing into us.
so what is a 12 yr old doing with a cell phone ?
 @Mazda84 Sadly, I see kids as young as 6 with their own phones. Go outside and play!
"
Settings allow the phones to lock while a car is moving so teens donât text and drive. The phone senses when itâs moving at more than 10 mph and shuts down, even in the middle of a call."
Â
It is too bad more phones are not set up that way, and left that way. If someone needs to call 9-1-1 while they are driving they can either pull over or over ride it. Other than that all phones should have the feature to disconnect while moving. I see people constantly yakking on the phone, or texting while driving. I figure they are either texting, nodding off with their eyes open, admiring something in their lap with their hands below the wheel One numbskull figured he would not do it that way, he held it to the side and texted one handed.
Â