Feature/General
Is Your Child Old Enough for a Cell Phone?
By Vincent Iannelli, M.D.
Sept/Oct 2006

Unlike other parenting problems, most of us can't really think back to our own childhood to see how our parents handled this issue. After all, cell phones weren't around when most of us were kids.
For many parents, a cell phone just seems like something else that their kids will nag them about getting, such as an iPod or a laptop.

Teens and tweens likely see the cell phone issue differently, imagining that getting a cell phone is a step towards independence and a status symbol among their friends.

Pros
One very good reason to get your kids a cell phone is that it lets you stay in touch with them at almost all times. In addition to being practical, like when gymnastics class lets out early, having a cell phone can help you easily get in touch with your kids in case of an emergency. This extra sense of security and safety that a cell phone provides is probably the key reason that parents should even consider getting their younger children a cell phone. And in the case of a real tragedy a cell phone can be your only lifeline to your kids.

A cell phone can also be an important way to keep in touch with your older teen, especially if they are driving. And if you get a phone with GPS, a cell phone can help you figure out where your teen is at all times.

Cons
Although the added safety a cell phone offers is nice, consider that most of the younger kids cell phone companies are targeting, especially tweens between the ages of 8 and 11 or 12, shouldn't really be alone anyway. In most situations, your child will be able to use a regular phone or the cell phone of whichever adult is supervising them.

Other good reasons to delay getting a cell phone until your kids are a little older can include:

Money - Cell phones can be expensive. Once you get away from a basic plan, you can be hit with extra charges for going over your minutes, sending text messages, buying ringtones, and using the internet. Even with fees for text messages as low as 10 cents each, that can quickly add up if you have an average kid that sends 10 to 20 text messages a day. And that doesn't include the cost of a replacement phone if your kids lose their phone.

Increased Independence - Although the increased independence that a cell phone might offer a child can be good, it can also be a negative thing. Consider that with a cell phone, your child will simply have another way to communicate with the outside world that you will have little supervision over.

• A pre-paid plan with a limited number of minutes so that you won't be faced with a lot of extra charges.
• The ability to put strict limits on what the phone can do, including being able to turn off web access and text messaging. Some phones also let you limit who can call and who your child can call.
• Only giving the phone to your child when he really needs it, like during a trip to the mall or other time when he might not be near a regular phone.
• Get one with a GPS tracker so that you can easily find your child when you need to. (This is probably the only reason that I would even consider getting a cell phone for my kids right now.)
• Have a discussion of some of the more serious cell phone issues, such as the dangers of driving while talking on a cell phone, cyberbullying, cell phone etiquette, and following rules for cell phone use at school.

Vincent Iannelli, M.D., is a board certified pediatrician, fellow of the American Academy
of Pediatrics, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Dr. Iannelli's first book, The Everything Father's First Year Book, was recently published by Adams Media.