5 Reasons why your kids should have cell phones

Jun 24, 2012 10:00 PM by Michelle Maffei

Posted in Parenting / Parenting Tips & Advice / Teen Behavior

Mobile Phones
And Children

Your kiddo has come to you with wishes for a mobile phone of her very own, but is she ready for the responsibility? From safety to family bonding, check out the five reasons why kids should have cell phones.

Mobile phones help keep kids safe

The main reason in support of kids having cell phones is safety. Your youngster can call home or emergency services when trouble arises when armed with a cell phone, as well as giving you the ability to locate her whereabouts with GPS features.

Mobile companies have also stepped up the family safety factor with services like the Sprint Family Locator. "Sprint Family Locator is a valuable tool that can help parents and guardians have a better sense of their children's whereabouts when they're apart," said Danny Bowman, vice president of product marketing for Sprint. "This is the latest Sprint innovation that uses GPS technology to improve the way families connect, communicate and locate one another." The same service from AT&T is called FamilyMap. Both companies offer free trials.

Conveniences of a cell phone

Giving kids mobile phones not only offers them a more convenient way to call home than finding a germ-ridden payphone, but also helps you keep in constant contact with your kids. From changes in after school pick up plans to making it easy for her to let you know she got to where she's going, there's no doubt that the conveniences that come with an adult having a cell phone translates the same when it comes to cell phones for kids.

Hectic family schedules? Organize the way your family communicates >>

Mobile phones are affordable

Although mobile phones of the past were considered a luxury item, there are tons of phones on the market today that you can get at low or no cost. Prepaid phone plans and the ability to simply add a line to your own parent cell phone account make the decision on whether your kids should have cell phones more about the peace of mind knowing your children are a touch tone away and less about the added expense.

Cell phones teach responsibility

Looking for a way to let your kid prove that she's ready for you to let out the leash a little bit? A cell phone can teach your child about responsibility, from taking care of the gadget to the minutes and text restrictions. You could opt for a puppy, but you know who will end up cleaning up after it in the long run.

Discover 7 tips for teaching your child responsibility >>

Family bonding through texting

Does your child look at you like you're speaking another language when trying to communicate with her? Changing how you talk with your teen by texting may be just the thing you need to connect with her on a different level. Although texting with your kiddo may seem like a silly idea, it may make her less resistant to what you have to say when she feels like you're more hip.

Not sure your kiddo is ready to have free reign of the wireless world? Opt for a plan feature that lets you monitor cell phone usage, restrict phone numbers your child can call or notifies your mobile phone when your child arrives at a designated place. But, before you give your youngster the green light on their own cell phone, discuss with your child these five reasons kids should have cell phones to ensure that she knows exactly what is expected from her, because a good parent-child cell phone relationship starts with good communication.

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Tags: child safety kids and cell phones

Comments

Comments on "5 Reasons why your kids should have cell phones"

I agree with the people that are saying children under 10 shouldn't have phones but i totally agree that 10+ should have them its how kids these days socialize!!!

i think kids should have cell phones cause if they are in trouble they can call home so that why kids should have cell phones and if im not serious kids should start using cell phones at age 10+ PS: i have a project in this subject :)

YES THEY SHOULD HAVE CELL PHONES

It is not acceptable to give a child a phone under the age of 10

Kids should get a mobile phone when they start high school for safety reasons.

I think kids age 10 and up should have phones! They need to communicate and have a social life. I don't know why u people are hating on kids with cell phones but they should have one. Especially if they get in trouble or get lost they need to call the police or their parents

i think kids 10 and up should have phones. say if they were wakling home and something happened the could call or if something happened.there is always the option of taking the thing away if they are bad or have bad grades.

I think kids should have cell phones because i believe they will need to know how to use them in different work places

I can't get a cell phone because my mom says im to young.But im only 11 years old. How can I persuade her.

I'm probably the last generation that didn't grow up with cell phones. We lived our lives without cell phones when we were kids. Today's kids need to tough it out and use their brains instead of their phones.

I agree with the arguments because I don't want to lose a child in a crowd! How would u feel if your child (aka baby to mothers) got lost and they did not know what to do except call u and they don't have a cell phone? The phone does not need any fancy gadgets, u can even block phone #s on their phone. Get real, this is the modern world now. Us adults need to get a grip.

i think children should have cell phones becuse you never know if there is an emergerency they can just get there phones out and call you mom or dad or rve police

Worst article ever.

Geez! I am SOOOO glad I clicked on this article. I really needed a good laugh this morning. The arguments put forth by the author are so ludicrous as to render them impossible to be taken seriously. Cell phones don't teach a child responsibility, parents do. And, if parents do teach their children responsibility, self-possession, respect, integrity and all the other things a child needs to learn from his or her parents, then all other things will fall in line. Kids who work to earn both privileges and possessions tend to be more responsible and trustworthy than those who are given things. We don't need kids texting in class or while behind the wheel of a car and ... texting as a 'bonding experience'? Really?????? Sometimes I can only roll my eyes, shake my head, and thank the good lord my brain works better than that. This author sounds like someone with a little sense of entitlement and who wants to infect others with that same attitude.

Cell phones for children to teach responsibility? Yet, the author decries that the child shouldn't take on the responsibility of taking care of a living, breathing animal-that would be too difficult. If they cannot learn to take care of a dog who will not cry when it's hungry, how will they ever learn to take care of an infant? However, a cell phone seems to be a reasonable choice for the author. Bypass that which seems to take some sacrifice and go for the easy fix. My kids had to learn to take care of our dog before they were allowed to save up for and purchase their own iPods-and I still take it away if their chores aren't done or the dog isn't taken care of. As for texting to bond or talking to them through their phone, if they cannot learn to be respectful enough to talk to you face to face or listen to you when they are talking, what chance do you think they will have in the job world? Do you really think that their boss is going to stand there and text all his/her expectations to them everyday? Yes, we do text and email, but the boss doesn't walk into the office to talk to you and whip out his phone. If you have to text your child/teen to get their attention, then you have a lack-of-respect issue and buying a phone will not help you. As for safety, being there will rectify that. A phone is NOT a babysitter, that's YOUR job-as the parent. You signed up for that one when you decided to have kids.

i say noone should have a fphone or a car because the more kids drive and text the more kids die but u kids are not realizing or even caring

Last year I walked in on a conversation my youngest daughter (14) was having with my husband. She was doing a school project and had to pick a topic with 3 supporting points. She picked "Why Kids Should Have Cell Phones". Her first point to back up this incredulous topic was "so if you forget your homework, you can call your parents to bring it to you". I really went off the deep end on that one. Teaching responsibility? Really???? Rue the day you call me for that! Not to mention the more than 19,000 - yes 19,000 - texts for the month. A great many during school hours. NO way. Not to mention all the cheating that can be done - who can't google an answer for a test these days? ESPECIALLY teenagers. They have a magic touch on those keypads like nothing I've ever seen before. I understand you want to know where your children are these days, but I'm ready to just tag them with a v-chip and call it a day!

you people are crazy for making RUDE comments kids should have cellphones to socalize and learn

I don't have a cellphone but I think kids should because they could locate their kids and stay connected actually kids should have cellphones ages 10 and up so if you want to stay connected with your kid get them a cellphone.Don't think the cellphones will distract kids in school they could use them as a learning disability

I agree younger children do not need mobiles ..But once they start high school and have to travel , safety says a phone is best!