Kids and responsible cell phone use
Today's kids can conquer new gadgets in no time. But tech skills don't always equal responsibility.
Photo by Indeed/Getty Images
Aside from the purely pragmatic reasons, most kids want cell phones because they’re fun. Cell phones are so popular with tweens that some school boards have banned them. Elementary school-age kids, of course, want gizmos of their own — preferably smartphones equipped with games, texting and a funky case, or a colourful flip phone with a cute charm. Here's what parents can do to ensure safe and responsible cell phone use:
Delay delay delay
Judy Arnall, a Calgary-based educator and author of Plugged-In Parenting, an instructional DVD about connecting with the digital generation, recommends holding off as long as possible to give kids their own phone. Because children are so rarely alone at this age, cell phones aren’t a necessity. “There are so many reasons, financially and socially, to wait,” she says. And as smartphone-addicted adults well know, phones can enable users to zone out from their surroundings — just like a video game or too much TV.
Buy a child-appropriate phone
When you decide your child is ready for a phone, consider one of the kid-marketed models; they look adorable and feature parental controls. For forgetful kids, a hand-me-down phone with prepaid minutes or a family plan may be more sensible. “Kids under eight lose a lot of things,” Arnall says. “If they lose their boots and their mittens, they will lose their phones.” Teaching responsible phone use — such as when it’s appropriate to talk or text in public — is also important. (You may have to better model this yourself.)
Consider the costs
Make sure your child understands the costs of calling and texting. If it’s a smartphone, you may want to disable data-hogging functions like internet access and email, or consider an iPod Touch: Many children in this age group are using the WiFi–based texting function, which doesn’t require a plan.
Monitor phone use
Arnall also advises parents to monitor a child’s phone use to make sure there’s no cyberbullying or text-message abuse going on.
A version of this article appeared in print in our April 2012 issue with the headline "Can you hear me now?" (p. 76).
New kid: How to make a family move easier
Baby teeth: When do kids start losing them?
Talking to your kids about tragedy
How the royal birth will be announced
Billy Crystal talks Monsters University — and being a grandfather
Body image survival guide for parents
Prenatal anxiety: Tips and treatment 
Father's Day
Ronalyn (not verified) says ....
I love that your theme is owls! That is so unique and makes for such fun shoewr decor. You look just beautiful. I, on the other hand, am very LARGE, as I count down the days to baby #4. Your post inspires me to post my shoewr pics though. I totally get the standing thing you were talking about. I thought the same thing about myself when I saw my posing with the hostesses picture.
Alexandra (not verified) says ....
Time to face the music armed with this great infmoratoin.
Anonymous says ....
Determine upfront why the phone is being purchased - is it for safety, status, etc.? Then you will be able to figure out what features you really need on a kid's phone. Do you mainly need texting, with limited talk time? Those plans are relatively inexpensive, and is really all most kids need. Or is it in your budget to splurge and get a data plan? But outline the expectations to your child first - I know of a few parents who were surprised by very large bills initially, when children go over set text plans (unlimited texting plans are inexpensive and worth it), make calls in out-of-range areas, leave their phones on when travelling (roaming fees) and use too much data. And every parent I know is frustrated by the amount of time their children spend using their phones, so the point of delay, delay, delay is a good one.
anooj says ....
Regarding "buying a child appropriate phone". There is actually an easier solution. Just get a used & cheap Android phone and load the KytePhone app (www.kytephone.com or search for it on Google Play marketplace) for free. It turns any Android phone into a kid-friendly phone and has parental control and monitoring capabilities. It's worth a try!
Bill at FamZoo (not verified) says ....
Regarding #4 (Consider the Costs), one of the best ways to make sure your child understands the costs is to have them pick up the tab for some (or all) of the functions - especially a usage based fee component. That's worked well with our kids. People are always careful with their OWN money.