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Should Kids Be Given Cell Phones?

By Leslie Hammond

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 both advantages and disadvantages to letting kids have cell phones. One of the reasons against the idea is that if you give kids phones when they're young, you'll spoil them when they're young. And giving expensive items to young kids may encourage them to continue to ask for pricey toys as they grow older. Having a phone gives kids a direct link to other kids and activities that may interfere with some of the more important parts of their lives, like school and studying.

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's up to parents to choose to spoil or discipline their children -- and giving or refusing a kid a cell phone can achieve both options. Of course there are factors involved in the purchase of a cell phone for a kid that go beyond age-appropriate decisions. These include the cost, the features available on individual phones, where your kids will be using their phones, and what content the phones can access, such as the Internet. These factors may also be regarded as benefits or disadvantages, depending on the parents' perspective.

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