T-Mobile suggests that you start using meditation apps

All telcos want you to pay for their (and not their rival's) service. This is valid for T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T alike; besides various device freebies and discounts on plans, the Big 3 often equips you with day-to-day advice.

Today's perk from T-Mobile is one that's oriented towards parents—after all, the new school year will kick off. This means that many parents will have to give their kid(s) their first smartphone.

These handsets of ours can be incredibly powerful—and I'm not talking about specs and hardware per se; it's the content we're consuming through these pocket screens that matters.

An important milestone

Your kids won't remember their first phone, but your job as a parent is to guide them. Per digital safety expert Cathy Pedrayes, who partners with T-Mobile, using a phone could be seen as any other skill we teach our kids, like riding a bike, for example.

Pedrayes is known as the "Mom Friend" on social media, where she shares practical advice to help parents navigate digital safety. A former scientist, author, television personality and mother, she focuses on making technology feel more manageable for families.

As the new school year approaches, Pedrayes says parents spend plenty of time preparing schedules, buying supplies and meeting teachers, but discussions about healthy device habits are often left until later.

She argues that parental controls are useful for setting limits, but they can't replace conversations that help children develop good judgment online.

On its behalf, Metro by T-Mobile is using the back-to-school season to promote the free Samsung Galaxy A37 5G for customers who bring their number and sign up for its $40 PERIOD plan, with no activation fee. Earlier, we told you about the new student plans.

Start talking early

Many schools introduce technology in the classroom from an early age, creating opportunities for parents to establish expectations long before children own a smartphone.

Pedrayes says even something as simple as choosing a YouTube video can become a lesson in recognizing misleading thumbnails or understanding that online content is not always genuine. She also recommends creating a simple family "tech agreement" that outlines rules, boundaries and what children should do if they encounter something that makes them uncomfortable.

The good example

Instead of focusing solely on daily screen time, Pedrayes believes parents should look at the quality of their children's online activities. Educational apps, productivity tools and creative content offer a different experience than endless social media scrolling.

She also says children learn from watching adults, making it important for parents to demonstrate healthy technology habits themselves. For example, if the kids see how their parents use their meditation apps, they might want to copy that same behaviour.

Safety features

Pedrayes encourages parents to enable basic safety features such as screen time limits, content filters, app restrictions, strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and regular software updates.

At the same time, she says these tools should support—not replace—ongoing discussions about cyberbullying, inappropriate content, scams and suspicious links. Children should understand why certain online behavior is risky rather than simply being blocked from it.

She also points to scam-blocking tools, such as Metro customers' access to Scam Shield, as another layer of protection.

Using phones together

Pedrayes recommends that parents take an active interest in what their children do online. Playing games together or exploring their favorite apps gives parents a deeper understanding of their digital environment while making it easier to discuss any concerns that arise.

What's more, phones should first and foremost help families communicate. In her household, children regularly use their devices to call relatives living abroad or let their parents know they arrived safely.

She notes that Metro includes unlimited calling to Mexico and Latin America, making it easier for families with relatives overseas to stay in touch.

The right approach

The goal is to help children develop healthy digital habits that will stay with them as they grow older. Parents should approach these conversations as a way to support their children rather than simply enforce rules.

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