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Question of the Week: Cell Phones
I laughed the other day when I was walking the halls of my oldest daughter's school. Plastered on several walls were signs asking students to please turn off their cell phones. I was at an elementary school mind you. At what age should a child get a cell phone?
Comments
It depends on the situation. When I was working full time and my daughter was walking home from school by herself I got her a cell phone (at eleven) because it made ME feel better for safety reasons (though there were strict rules about usage). As she got older she abused the usage rules so she ended up with a 3 button cell phone (3 numbers to call out only) and the phone had a GPS locator (so I could verify she was where she said she was) - again, to make me feel better about her safety. The next phone she got (at 18), she bought and she pays the bill.
Social phone use (at parent's expense) is not an inherent right at any age. It can provide a measure of added safety (or mental security) but it also comes with responsiblity - for the child AND the parent.
Beth Roland, Stroller Strides Modesto
I think it depends on the family situation, and how often a child is going to need to call for a ride or to let a parent know when s/he will be coming home. I can imagine a point where I'd have a prepaid phone for use by my kids on an as-needed basis, but that's not going to happen until middle school at the earliest because an adult is always there after school to make sure they get home OK.
I had assumed that cellphones were off-limits for kids in elementary schools, period. I would hate to be a teacher if 25 students in my class had phones to distract them!
Emily
Is it wrong that Nicholas already has one at six months? Actually, the girls got theirs at 13. I always thought cell phones for kids were silly, but once they hit the age where they're not always with a parent, phones are essential, I think. You should get your kids phones before they're 18 - only because I need my $50.