In the modern age, children as young as five are begging their parents for cell phones. Most parents wonder when their child is the right age to have a cell phone. That would depend on the circumstances. When deciding if your child is ready for his or her own cell phone, there are several things to consider.
Most parents want to buy cell phones for their children so that young people can stay in touch when they are away from home. These devices are useful if they need to be carried and allow you to communicate with them in an emergency. And as scary as it is, a cell phone may be your only contact with your child during a school shooting or terrorist attack.
Another advantage of a cell phone for your teen is the fact that you can call and tell him where he is and when he plans to be home. The added function of a GPS can ensure that the teen is where she is supposed to be.
The only reason you might want a younger child to have a cell phone is to allow them to communicate with you when they’re not in school, and many schools now ban cell phone use on their property. So if you’re buying a phone for a kid who spends most of their time at school, you might as well not even bother. You won’t be able to use it there anyway. Another factor is the age of the child. If a child is under the age of ten, he really shouldn’t be alone anyway, so he should be able to use the cell phone that belongs to the supervising adult. Therefore, buying a phone for a younger child is not a necessity.
Another downside to buying a cell phone for any of your children is the added expense. While you can keep careful track of your available minutes and rarely text, kids don’t keep track of the minutes they use, and some teens send as many texts a day as their fingers can type. Your child can also download games on their cell phone, which adds additional costs. These practices can lead to an astronomical phone bill. That does not include the additional cost if your child loses or breaks her cell phone.
While some parents see the added independence a cell phone can give a child as an advantage, it could also be seen as a disadvantage. While it gives her son more freedom, it is a freedom to communicate with the outside world without her supervision. This can open the way for sex offenders to befriend your child without her knowledge.
If you decide to let your child have a cell phone, you may want to purchase a prepaid phone to keep the price reasonable. You should also put limits on the amount of usage and the details of what the phone will be used for. Also take the time to talk to your child about not accepting text messages from anyone you don’t know.
Cell phones are becoming a way of life for most Americans. While a teenager probably needs one of these devices, a younger child may not. In the end, the choice is up to you.