Giving Children Cellphones – Pros and Cons of Giving Them a Phone

The conversation is inevitable, and like most parts of growing up, it’s happening earlier than ever. Children are asking for cell phones as early as second grade. The reason? Many of their classmates already have them, and somehow, someway, cell phones have wormed their way into childhood necessities, just like pencils, paper, and crayons. Giving a child a cell phone is not necessarily a bad idea, but it does seem that many parents forego intellectual judgment and financial scrutiny when making the decision. After all, do they really need one?

Before you break down and try to keep up with the Joneses or cave to social pressure, consider a few things. Most school systems have stringent policies about cell phone usage during school hours. They are clearly an interruption to class time, and with capabilities like texting and internet access, cell phones can easily be abused and used to harm classmates. If they are forbidden from being used during school hours, why give a child a cell phone to take to school? For so many children who lack self-discipline, it seems like an open invitation to trouble.

Consider the Cost and Responsibility

Secondly, think about the cost. Children often believe that money grows on trees, and they may see their innocent text messages and lengthy phone conversations about what so-and-so was wearing as harmless. But once you get the bill, you might see them differently. Parents might threaten to make their child pay for the bill if it’s overused, but realistically, few elementary, middle, or even high school kids can afford a $400 bill. Another consideration is theft and forgetfulness. Providing the top-notch iPhone for a child who can’t even keep track of their toothbrush or pencil is not just ridiculous—it’s plain ignorant! If you are giving a child a cell phone, make sure it’s one of your old ones, or buy something for $15 at Wal-Mart! Prepaid phones, although more expensive initially, may be the best bet for young cell phone users. They avoid the shock and horror of overage charges or the disappointment of having the phone lost, loaned out, or stolen. If your kids balk at using an old phone, give them the choice: either take this one, or don’t have one at all.

There are also some other issues that cell phones and children seem to invite. The whole texting and picture-sharing trend has opened up a plethora of inappropriate situations for young children. Although they may not understand the implications of taking pictures of themselves or others in compromising or private moments, it can be legally prosecuted. Teens also use cell phones to carry out battles and social conflicts at school, easily forwarding rumors, gossip, and other painful information to hundreds of people in an instant. Some of these actions can be legally prosecuted, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out who will be responsible for footing that bill.

Giving a child a cell phone should be viewed as a privilege. Yes, they can survive without it. No, you are not saving their life by giving them one. Chances are, in the event of a large-scale national emergency or even a localized school fire or shooting, cell phones are one of the first things the government will shut down. It seems that when your child begins to drive or spends hours away from home, such as at band camp or sports practice, that’s when the need for a cell phone arises. Prior to that, it’s just silly! If parents would stop trying to ensure that their child has everything they want but don’t need, and instead focus on providing the things they need—like supervision, control, limits, boundaries, and rules—the cell phone conversation would be a non-issue until they are driving.

Speaking of driving, take a look around as you shift through the streets of your town or local marketplaces. You’ll see how many young people use cell phones. You can’t order a drive-through burger or stop at a traffic light without seeing someone chatting endlessly—paying no attention to anything they’re supposed to because a cell phone is glued to their ear. What is this generation learning about smelling the roses or enjoying the moment?

Giving a child a cell phone is a family decision—but one that should be made thoughtfully, with rules that a parent can enforce. They really don’t need them. They really aren’t allowed to have them in school, and they are a distraction to adults and children all around. When we were young, we used hand-me-down bats and clothes before our parents were willing to foot the bill. When we got new things, it was a Christmas or birthday gift, and we cherished them. So why have parents suddenly started to feel that children today are entitled to things like cell phones or laptops? If you are considering giving your child a cell phone, it’s wise to reflect on your reasons before deciding whether or not to do so. If it’s needed, useful, and conducive to something positive for either you or your child, then go for it! Otherwise, you should probably wait a few years until the cell phone is actually warranted!