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Teach about phone safety With so many headlines about kids being exposed to indecent content on TV and the Internet, we sometimes take telephone safety for granted. But kids need to be educated about responsible phone usage as well. The issue can be tricky. With so many children learning how to use a telephone at an early age, some might consider it to be just another toy. However, even young children can learn boundaries about making calls and the importance of not releasing personal information. Here are five steps to ensure responsible phone usage for your family. Don’t talk to strangers Remind your kids not to talk to people they don’t know. If they do not recognize the caller, they should never release any personal information or reveal if they are at home alone. Teach them to immediately hand the phone over to a parent or end the call when they get scared or concerned. What’s a 900 number? Many children are too young to understand the nature of the content of 900 phone numbers or that you pay to place a 900 call. Explain the difference between 900 numbers and regular phone calls, and make sure your children understand that they shouldn’t call 900 numbers without your permission. Try Call Blocks Consider having the phone company block 900 number calls from your phone. Learn about the 976 exchange Educate your children about the new 976 exchange. Used mostly for sports calls, they typically cost about 50 cents. Determine if your children need to ask your permission before dialing those numbers. Make rules about phone usage Create a list of easy-to-read house rules for phone usage, and post them near the telephones your children use, along with a list of numbers to dial in case of an emergency (911, your local fire department, etc.). – Courtesy of Cox Communications. For more safety tips, visit cox.com/takecharge. |
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