There are many debates on what age you should allow your child to get a cell phone. Some say that young they shouldn’t be allowed to have them until they are in high school. Others say their seven year olds have them and have no problems. This article will help you decide as a parent what is right for your family.
One factor that families have to consider is cost. Is it cheaper for you to have your house phone shut off and just get cell phones? Most of the time, it is. You can pay upwards of seventy bucks a month for a house phone that you never even use. Most internet connects are WiFi now, so you don’t need the house phone for the internet connection. Several cell phone companies offer additional lines for around ten dollars a month, so depending on how many children you have, getting cells phones for everyone could be the best deal for you.
Then you have to factor in insurance on these phones. Depending on what kind of phone you get, the insurance on it can cost around seven to fifteen dollars per month. Then, if something were ever to happen to the phone, you still would have to pay fifty dollars for the replacement phone. This price may seem expensive, but try buying one without insurance. You could pay four hundred dollars for the same phone you got free with your new contract, all because your child dropped it in a puddle on the way home from school.
Then there is the issue with text messages. If your child has a phone that has the capability of sending text messages, it is going to very difficult to keep them from using this. Most contracts come with a few text messages per month, but it’s usually not very many. If your child goes over those free texts, your bill could skyrocket in no time flat. Many cell phone companies charge between ten and twenty cents per text. If you don’t know your child has went over and they keep texting thirty times per day for fifteen days, that’s at least $45! If you have four kids that do that, the price can become simply outrageous.
If cost isn’t the reason you are thinking about getting your child a cell phone, maybe safety is. Does your child walk home from school? Are they alone between the time they get home from school and the time mom and dad get home from work? If this is the case, you probably want your child to have access to a phone at all times where they can call you if they ever need you.
What it all comes down to is whether or not you think your child needs one. If your getting it because you think it will save you money or because you think it’s necessary for your child’s safety, then you probably should get them one. It’s all up to you when you decide to get your child a phone as you know them better than anyone else. It’s going to be hard teaching them how big of a responsibility a cell phone is, but it’s going to a task whether they’re ten or fifteen when you give it to them.
I hope that these factors have helped you in making your decision on whether or not to get you child a cell phone. All families are different and in different situations, but I hope these starting ideas have helped you on your way to making your decision.
