Archive for the ‘safety’ tag
Should Kids Be Given Cell Phones?
Cell phones are a part of life throughout the world, that is hard to deny. But what is the appropriate age for a kid to have a cell phone?
There are many advantages as well as disadvantages in doing this. Cellular phones are quite attractive to thieves since it is very easy to sell. You would not want to expose your kid to that kind of danger and trauma. Also, make sure that your kid is already capable of properly using the phone or you are simple wasting money. Giving them a phone at such an early age may be spoiling them early. Giving them expensive things at a very young age may lead them to get used to asking for more as they grow. It also allows them easy access to other kids and activities that may hinder some of the more important aspects in their lives such as education.
Looking at it from another perspective, there are some advantages to kids having cell phones. With phones, kids need to become more responsible and tech-savvy at a young age. It’s also easier for them to call for help or for anything else they need urgently. If they have phones, you can stay in touch or check in any time you want. Letting them have a phone will make them feel they are trusted and give them more of a feeling of independence.
When parents weigh the pros and cons, it’s true that the advantages win over the disadvantages. Of course, it’s important for parents to advise their kids on the appropriate use of cell phones, and to buy affordable phones that are easy to use and not a temptation to thieves. Simply put, parents know what their kids can and can’t handle, and definitely know best when deciding what their kids need.
It will be up to them if they want to spoil their kid or discipline them, both with the use of a cellular phone. It would be wise to also consider all the other factors involved when your kid will use a cell phone aside from just the pros and cons. This includes the costs, the features the phones have, the places where your kids will be using the cell phones and what the phones can access such as the Internet. All this may prove to either be a benefit or a disadvantage depending on how the parent may perceive it.