“But Mom, everyone has a cell phone!”

The days of finding crumpled up notes from school in the bottom of kid’s backpacks have passed. Now kids walk around with heads buried in their cell phone screens, texting as young as elementary school age.

When should parents allow their kids to enter this world of cell phone ownership? Does the decision come with strict rules and regulations? These questions and more come without easy answers.

As parents, you want to feel reassured in the fact that you trust your kids. Technology creates an obstacle on the road to building this trust, making it difficult for parents to know when they should check up on text messages and calls versus respecting their kid’s privacy.

Phones also open avenues into social media, apps, and many other realms. The overwhelming world of technology, that seems to often come easier to young kids than ourselves, creates a world of uneasiness. Stepping back from the situation and taking such a large decision piece by piece may ease the anxiety and make for an easier transition for both parents and kids.

Age

Similar to many of the other issues regarding this decision, the matter of age often cannot be generalized as a rule for all parents to follow. This being said, many experts feel that parents should delay the decision for as long a possible. Before middle school, parents need to create strong lines of communication capable of surviving the teenage years. Creating an environment where kids feel as if they can text their friends with their troubles and turn immediately to the screen of a cell phone may make parents feel miles away from the happenings in their child’s world.

Texting

Within the past few years, texting has become nearly as popular and common as brushing your teeth. That being said, this constant communication that kid’s have with their peers brings forth issues such as cyber bullying and sexting that no parent wishes to encounter. The vocal disconnect makes hurting others feelings and gossiping more likely. The problem only becomes multiplied by the immaturity of middle school age children.

The option to block texting on your child’s phone may be helpful initially. Taking small steps towards technological freedom helps to implant in your kids a sense of responsibility that accompanies each capability.

Privacy vs. trust

When kids begin texting, parents often feel constantly tempted to pick up the cell phone and sift through the messages their child sends and receives. Yet, letting them know you don’t always trust them may come with consequences that outweigh the benefits. Handling the situation with a system that both parties agree upon may not only protect the line of communication, but in fact make it stronger. Let your kids know that you would like to see who they are texting but won’t ask to see exactly what they wrote. Another way to handle this is to let them know that you can receive the texts from the phone company if they give you reason for suspicion.

Safety

Make kids aware of the dangers that result from using a cell phone. From texting to creating social media accounts through apps, kids need to know the rules of the cell phone road. Print news stories and discuss kids who have put themselves in harms way through releasing information on phones, texting people they don’t know, and misusing their technology freedom.

No matter when you decide to allow your child to have a cell phone, make sure the decision comes with a mutual understanding that having a phone goes beyond the middle school playground and into the realm of adulthood responsibility.

What cell phone decisions have you made with your kids?

Mom Central