Sharon Cuneta Gives Son Miguel A ‘Simple’ Phone, Says All Her Kids Started Using Simple Phones

In our highly digital world, it’s not unusual to see young children and toddlers who know their way around smartphones and tablets. So when Sharon Cuneta shared that she had just gifted her youngest son Miguel a simple phone, many were amazed.

“Someone is turning 13… and got a new, simple phone! All my kids started with simple cellphones! Look how happy he was to finally get one! she wrote on her Instagram caption. 

Miguel’s phone is called simple because these days, a smartphone is a young person’s choice of first mobile phone. Based on our research, Miguel received a Nokia 8210 4G which has basic features of a mobile phone but cannot download apps nor connect to Wi-Fi.

With screens being part of our every day life, it’s probably safe to assume the Pangilinans have their fair share at home especially the likes of laptops or tables for academic use. But perhaps a simple phone is their way to help Miguel grow discipline over his device usage while he is still a teenager.

Why start kids out with simple phones

Andrea Davis, educator, mom of five and half of the team behind Better Screen Time proposes a four-phase process for giving kids a smartphone. This is called Smartphone Stairsteps.

Here are their four steps:

1. Start with a basic communication device or a feature phone.

This step eases your child into the responsibility of managing a cellphone. The device gives you the basic functions, calling, messaging, and probably a low-quality camera. 

2. Transition to a smartphone with just the bare bones.

Think limited capabilities of a smartphone: call, email, send text messages, take photos. You may also want to include calculator, alarm, music. Davis says “Think useful at this stage. Still no games and no social media at this point.

Note that it is important to sit down with your child to talk about technology rules and guidelines your family has set. Think of it like any other rule you might have in your family. 

It would also be important to set rules and guidelines about not downloading apps without parental permission at this point.

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3. Add a few non-social media apps.

When you feel the time is right, sit down with your child to talk about what games or apps you may want to include in their smartphone. This is another opportunity to remind kids about technology rules in your family.

4. Add in social media apps last.

Davis said, “Social media is the last thing to appear on the phone. I promise you will not regret waiting on this.

“Many adults are still learning how to handle social media, so unleashing this on a teen without a fully developed prefrontal cortex is not a good idea.

She reminds parents in her blog post that introducing kids to technology does not have to be an all-or-nothing event. “As parents, we can give our kids the scaffolding they need to build healthy phone-use habits. And part of that scaffolding is carefully phasing in the amount of information and phone capabilities they have access to.

Taking baby steps in tech allows kids to gain the skills they need before handling new technology that might come their way.

The educator and mom of five says in her Instagram post of the same principle, “There is no need to rush childhood. But when it’s time to start introducing tech, you’ve got some amazing kid-safe options!”

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