From the age of four or five years, kids want digital toys. From the Tamagotchi or Nintendo games console at four, to the mobile phone at five. And by the age of eight that mobile becomes a smartphone. But it’s not just phones. As caring parents we want to give our children the best start in this digital lifestyle, and that means learning how to find their way around smartphones, laptops and tablets. We buy them educational digital gadgets, and download learning aps. All of them are expensive to buy – and as expensive to replace when lost or damaged. So what’s the best way of ensuring your kids gadgets last longer than the Christmas holiday?
Get a Case or Cover:
Teaching your children not to leave phone, iPad, notebook, tablet, laptop or other gadgets lying on the floor is always a good plan. It helps reduce the risk of size nine work-boots or stiletto heels crushing the case and smashing the screen. Most flat gadgets, from smartphone to laptop and digital camera, have covers or cases as an optional extra. If it’s a birthday, and you’re buying the device, ask grandma or big brother if they would like to buy the case. Even the youngest children will appreciate the cover the first time their new toy falls down the stairs or is dropped on the garden path.
Demonstrate your DIY Skills:
Boxes of all shapes and sizes are available for keeping kids electronics safe. Buying pre-lined boxes will help absorb any shock when gadgets are dropped in. Or line the boxes yourself. A couple of metres of bubble-wrap cut to size, and the kid’s favourite colour cloth stuck over the bubble wrap, should prevent any major damage. If there’s a little sibling jealousy in the household, purchase lockable boxes.
Is there a set of drawers in the bedroom for tee-shirts, underwear etc.? Convert one drawer for gadget storage. Again, the drawer can be lined and, if your DIY skills stretch that far, split so each gadget has its place.
Don’t Hope for the Best – Prepare for the Worst:
While we can do our best to keep the kids gadgets safe indoors, there’s little we can do when they take them outside or to school. With whole families owning expensive digital gadgets, many homes are only finding out their contents are under insured when the company refuses to pay out. Others are finding their kids gadgets aren’t covered when lost, damaged or stolen outside, at school or on holiday. Perhaps it’s time to look at a new policy. The Switched On Insurance family bundle is a policy tailored to cover all the family’s digital products.
Still hoping for the best? In recent surveys for 2017, it’s estimated nearly 500,000 Brits had their phone stolen, and 7.5 million were walking around with cracked smartphone screens. We can only try to educate our kids on how to look after their expensive digital toys at home. Perhaps when away from home, we should employ a little extra help.
