If you're a parent of a teen or pre-teen, you've mot certainly heard the question, "When can I get a cell phone?" With customized ring tones and unique phone designs in cool styles, cell phones are a "must have" for the next generation. The question is: do kids really need a cell phone? If you ask them, the answer is a definite yes, but as a parent, you need to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
One of the strongest arguments for giving your child a cell phone is for use during an emergency. If they need a ride or if an extracurricular activity ends early or runs late, it's a convenient way for them to contact you. If your teen is driving, a cell phone is a good idea for safety reasons. Sue and Jeff White of Scranton purchased a phone for their daughter, Ashley, when she turned sixteen. "We bought our daughter a phone when she started driving, " says Sue. "We feel better knowing she can call if she has any trouble."
Undoubtedly, cell phones make all of our lives easier, but parents can't assume their children know the boundaries of responsible cell phone use. One of the main abuses by teens is over-use. Text messaging, internet access, and exceeding plan minutes can rack up the charges and make your montly cell bill a nightmare. As a parent, you should set limits and make your child aware of the consequences of exceeding those limits. One way to deal with over-use is to ask your teen to pay for any fees he incurs beyond the cost of the phone plan or to take away cell phone privileges until he "works off" the money by doing extra chores.
It is also important to set guidelines for your child's cell phone usage. Under no circumstances should phones be used during school hours. In fact, most schools have a strict policy on this very topic. Caution children not to give out their number to just anyone or to "chat" on the Internet with strangers. If their phone comes equipped with a camera, make sure to teach them to respect the privacy of others and to use proper judgement when taking or sharing a photo.
Perhaps the most important issue to discuss with them is driving safety. "If your teen is driving, it's a great idea for them to have a cell phone so you can keep track of them," says Dickson City pediatrician, Dr. Mark Sigman, M.D. ""But it's also important to stress safety. It's easy to get distracted when you're having a phone conversation while driving, and new drivers have to be especially cautious. Talk openly with your teen about the dangers of driving while using his cell phone to prevent a serious car accident - but be sure to set a good example and use an ear piece when you drive while talking.
In reent years, there's also been a lot of speculation about the possible health risks of using cell phones. "Researchers have speculated for more than 10 years that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones may damage DNA and cause benign brain tumors," said Henry Lai, a bioengineering professor at the University of Washington. "We don't know very much about the health effects of cell phone use on kids, but there are speculations."
Lai said he was concerned about the impact on children because young skulls are thinner and the growing brain may be more susceptible to radiation. He also said that because brain tumors usually take 30-40 years to develop, children who use cell phones from their teen years onward would have a longer period of time to see a cumulative impact. "We don't know if kids are really more susceptible, " Lai said, but he encourages everyone to use a headset to keep the antenna away from the brain, "even if they're not cool."
Dr. Sigman agrees that there may be health risks associated with using cell phones, but much is still unknown. "The jury is still out on that, we're just not sure. A lot of studies are being done so we'll have to wait and see."
Depsite cost, usage, or health issues surrounding cell phones, more than half of Americna teens owned one in 2005. And, with cellular companies now targeting the under-13 set, that statistic may soon include a whole new set of users. In society, cell phones may have moved from the luxury to necessity category, but as parents, you must decide if and when a cell phone is right for you child.
This article was originally published in the Spring 2006 edition of Today's Child.