Should Children have Mobile Phones?

There is quite a debate out there about whether children should have mobile phones or not. Of course all children think that it is a necessity, even those as young as grade school age. Not all parents agree though and so it can lead to some conflicts. There are some pros and cons of a child having a mobile phone that they can evaluate together to come to that decision.

Having a mobile phone doesn’t have to be expensive. Many parents find they can add another phone to their existing plan for a very reasonable price. If your child really wants the mobile phone then they should be willing to forgo all of the additional features that result in the phone being costly. They should be aware of their use of minutes and texting so that they don’t exceed them. If you can get a plan where these things are unlimited it is wise to do so.

There are some Mobile Phones for kids that you can program to only call a few numbers. These are perfect for grade school children. They can call home, your place of employment, and a few other people you want them to have access to. This way they can’t rack up charges or be calling people they shouldn’t from that mobile phone.

In our society many parents work outside of the home. Children also have lots of activities they are involved in. With a mobile phone they can contact their parents to let them know where they are. They can call when they get there to check in and they can call when they need a ride home. This is extremely convenient and it helps parents to feel more confident about where their children are. They know they can call at any time to find out if they need to do so.

Emergency situations can arise where a child may need to have access to a mobile phone. It is a fact that school shootings have become all too common. Many of them have been handled quickly with minimal damage due to children having mobile phones. They were able to make calls out or send text messages giving law enforcement the information they need to resolve the situation.

As parents we encourage our children to call us if they find themselves in a situation they are uncomfortable with. Giving them a mobile phone can help to ensure they are able to do so. Of course you don’t want to find your child is constantly on their mobile phone and not taking care of things they need to. Schools have rules that require mobile phones to be turned off or on vibrate during classes so there are no interruptions.

Many parents feel giving their child a mobile phone helps them to be more responsible. They have no excuse for not checking in or calling if they are going to be late. They can also use it as leverage. For example telling their child they can have a mobile phone as long as they are passing all their school courses.