The popularity of cell phones really began in the 90s, and they have almost seemed to become a necessity these past 10 years. Cell phones have also become very popular in children younger than 15 years of age. Everywhere you look, kids are flashing cell phones – texting back and forth to multiple other people simultaneously. Some parents think it’s a good idea for young children to carry a cell phone, while others disagree. Let’s cover some positives and negative thoughts on children owning cell phones.
Cell Phones Make Parent’s Feel More Secure
Most parents worry about their child, but that’s part of being a parent. Parents will do whatever they think they need to do to keep their child (or children) safe. Before cell phones, I can remember my parents telling me to call as soon as I got to where I was going – but that was from a regular phone. We didn't have cell phones. Now that cell phones are everywhere we look, parents can “keep up” with their children while they are on the road, at a friend’s home, or anywhere else a cell phone signal is available.
So basically, parents who voluntarily provide cell phones to their younger children do it so they will have a “more secure” feeling when their children are away. But, is this a good idea? Probably. But is the cell phone being used for safety purposes, or is it possibly distracting the child from their surroundings – including school and driving?
