What is an Appropriate Age for Kids to have a Cell Phone?

By Morgan BurnsCommunication 1020

What Age Do You Think Kids Should Have a Cell Phone? Live Poll What age should a kid get a cell phone?• Elementary school• 14%• Middle school or older• 63%• Whenever they can pay for it themselves• 23% Total Votes: 546

The Statistics 18 percent of

elementary school kids

61 percent of middle school kids

83 percent of high school kids

54 percent of 8 to12 year olds will have cell phones within the next three years.

Why Kids Should Wait to Have a Cell Phone Addiction Other forms of

communication Let’s kids experience

childhood Distraction in School

Pros and Cons

Positive Parental Control Responsibility Safety Accessibility

Negative Distraction at

School Cost Hidden Dangers Lack of Sleep Bullying

Questions to Ask How and when will they use the phones? Are the

phones for emergency use only or for socializing?

Should they be able to send and receive text messages? To and from whom?

What is the entire monthly cost, including fees, text messaging, photos, ringtone and music downloads?

Will your child pay for all or part of the plan? Will the money come out of her allowance, or is she a teenager with a summer job and a small income?

Things You Can do as a Parent Set Parental Controls - Phone turns off at a certain time - Can only call certain people - Tracking Devices

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Commercials Targeting Kids

Bibliography Varma-White, Kavita. "What Age Is

Appropriate for a Kid to Have a Cell Phone?" Moms Today. Msn.com, 6 Sept. 2011. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

Lenz, Sara. "Younger Kids Join Cell Phone Frenzy." Stltoday.com. 23 Aug. 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

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