Giving Children Cell Phones

More and more children are showing up at school each September with cell phones. Many parents buy their children a cell phone because it is a nice safety measure. It gives those working parents a little sense of control and security to know when their children are off campus and on their way home.

But having a cell phone might be a problem. Parents may find themselves facing a frightening bill at the end of the month. The reason: chatting on the phone and sending text messages can soon become the favorite pastime of preteens and teenagers. Worse still, cell phones in schools can lead to classroom distractions¹, text-message cheating and inappropriate photographs.

Knowing their children can always be reached is reassuring² for parents. But before buying their child a cell phone, I think parents should decide if the child is really capable of managing his or her own phone. Besides, parental³ control must be exercised in the use of the phone. For example, they should set limits on how long the child is allowed to stay on the phone.