Cell phone usage by elementary school children presents social and psychological questions. While the schools themselves may create rules governing cell phone usage, the ultimate decision of whether to give your child a cell phone lies in the parents’ domain. Facing the issues that are raised leads to sensible decision-making.
Social issues are multiple. Parents may feel a pressure to give their child what other children have and to meet the expense. Parents may like the security and practical necessity of reaching their children when they’re at school. Most important, parents may feel they need to provide cell phones to young children because they’re at risk when they’re away from home. Dangers may be perceived if the child walks alone from the bus stop or to and from school.
A vigilant stance may have psychological implications. If the child’s told to only use the phone when he’s in an emergency in school, there’s a suggestion to the child that the school personnel aren’t providing a safe haven. If the child’s told she may use the phone on the way home, again there’s a heightened sense of a lack of safety in her environment.
If indeed there are dangers during school hours, they need to be corrected by talking with the administration and teacher. If there are risks to the child walking home, parents or a surrogate should be available. In other words, a cell phone may be an aid, but it’s not the sole answer.
Furthermore, the cell phone may be seen as needed by a school phobic child. Instead, this child needs the comfort and security of the school social worker or psychologist. The child needs to learn to trustothers away from home to help him feel safe and unafraid.
Ultimately, it’s important to learn that social and psychological issues can’t be solved by the convenience of a cell phone. Trust, safety, security and adapting to school life away from home need to be worked out by parents and school personnel to create a supportive at-mosphere for our children.
parents’ survey
Amplitude Research surveyed 1,100 parents in the United States over a two-week period in Sept., 2005 and found that 23 percent permitted their elementary school children to have a cell phone (more in the urban and suburban areas compared to the rural areas) in school. They found that 68 percent of parents stated the school has a cell phone policy; 16 percent said that they didn’t know of the school’s policy and 16 percent said their school has no policy.