| | | | Should Your Child Have a Cell Phone? |
By Darlene Zagata 
In some ways, the cellular phone revolution has become a monster out of control. Everyone has to have a cell phone. This includes adults, teens and preteens. Even toddlers walk around with toy cell phones. Parents often find themselves debating whether or not they should purchase a cell phone for their child. Cellular phones do come in handy and provide a way for parents to keep in touch with their children when they are away from home. Being able to connect through the use of cell phones provides both parents and children with an added sense of security. But cell phone bills can end up being totally outrageous if you’re not careful.
The temptation to download ring tones and going over the limited number of minutes on cell phone plans can send bills skyrocketing through the roof in practically no time at all. Parents that opt to buy pre-paid phones for their children may find that this choice is not exactly optimal either. Pre-paid cell phones are best for people who rarely use cell phones and only plan on using them when absolutely necessary. For teens that love to talk on the phone, pre-paid cell phones are an absolute waste of hard earned money. So what options do you have?
Your best bet is to check the plans of various providers to find a plan that suits both your needs and the needs of your child or children. If you already have a cell phone plan you may want to check with your current provider to see about adding your child or changing your current plan to accommodate your family. Family sharing plans may work well for some parents and their children so this might be worth looking into but when children tend to talk excessively, a limited amount of minutes will prove to be insufficient. Your teen may need a stand alone unlimited plan.
As a parent, you may want to set some ground rules for your child regarding talk time and cell phone bills. For example, you may want to set time limits for your preteen or teen such as no phone calls after 10:00 p.m. on school nights. If your teen has a job or is old enough to get one, you may want to make paying the cell phone bill or at least part of it, a stipulation of providing him or her with a cell phone. It is a good way for teens to learn responsibility. When your teen is the one paying the bill, he or she quickly learns that a cell phone is not a toy but rather a privilege and a responsibility.
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i think you worked hard to write this and you did good i realy loved it
shania
I would say when a child becomes "responsible" enough to say drive, date etc. then a cell phone should be considered....and only for emergencies. It seems that kids are so distracted that they don't focus on what they should be focusing on. I didn't have one growing up (probably because they weren't invented) and I turned out just fine! LOL
ChristineB
my kids earned the "use" of a cell phone as soon as they were old enough to do things with out my husband and me ... leave them at parties, dropped off at amusement parks/the mall/theaters. By the "use" of a cell phone, I mean that we typically have an extra phone to be lent to the child for these purposes. When those activities became more consistent, then they got the phone full time - my now 16 year old was in 7th grade when she got hers and my son was in 9th.
dianerene
I think all kids should have a cell that way you can keep in touch with each other.
Colette
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