Over the last decade, mobile phones have become part of Americans daily lives, including the lives of children. In a poll recently released by HighlightsParents.com, a site by Highlights for Children, parents reported their conflicted feelings on this new feature of the parenting landscape. They responded to the site’s poll on how and when they and their kids use mobile phones. An overwhelming majority, (97 percent) reported owning a cell phone themselves, but only a third (31 percent) had given a phone to their child. Most (62 percent) had a mixed response to its overall presence in their daily life, calling it “useful, but annoying.” Thirteen or older was selected as the appropriate age to give a child a cell phone, by 73 percent of respondents. Only a quarter (24 percent) thought it was okay for 9 to 12 year olds to have cell phones, and a meager number (3 percent) were comfortable with children between 5 and 8 years of age carrying them. Regardless of age, a minority (23 percent) reported being comfortable with cell phones being allowed in schools.
Despite many comments that reflected worries that cell phones are distracting to kids and disrupt family time, school and other activities, many parents felt that they wanted their child to be easy to reach in case of emergencies, even while at school. Others felt differently. One parent commented, "As kids, we survived without cell phones. I think our kids can, too."
"While there are clear benefits to the use of a cell phone, parents need to make their expectations about its use clear from the start," says Istar Schwager Ph.D., educational psychologist and consulting editor of HighlightsParents.com. "In addition to insisting that phones remain off at family meals and other gatherings, parents should talk with their kids about the negative consequences of constant talking and texting, revealing too much, sending inappropriate photos, and 'cyberbullying.'" Additional tips are available at HighlightsParents.com.