It’s no surprise these days to spot children as young as three years old with a cell phone or some type of device in their hands.  It’s become the norm, rather than the exception. Our cell phones have become mini computers and they hold our life. We pay our bills, deposit checks, organize our to-do list, send emails, take photos and entertain ourselves all on one device.  Not only do our children see us with our phones throughout the day, their friends probably have them too! As a parent it is your choice as to when your child receives a cell phone and it’s up to you on how you would like to control it.

The Pros

Cell phones nowadays offer many safety features such as Find Friends, a location service so you know where your loved ones are at all times. Several apps and services exist to child-proof a cell phone and record what a child is doing on their cell phone. These tools can be useful for a parent, especially in monitoring the amount of “screen time” the child is exposed to in a day.

Cell phones offer tremendous potential benefits for parents. A cell phone offers the child a way to call or text in the event of an emergency.  Reminders could be set for when medication should be administered while they’re away from you. In addition there are many apps that can assist with learning, tutoring, scheduling and productivity.  Yes, cell phones for children can be used in a positive way if you choose to provide your child with one. 

The Cons

The downside (and this is true for adults as well) is that cell phones can be extremely distracting. Rather than a child interacting with a screen in their tender years, parents should encourage their children to have social interactions and build social skills with their peers. Screen addiction is a thing and it can really affect your child’s crucial brain development years.  Although you may use parental controls, children know how to use Google too and just as easy as those controls can be set, they can be removed by your child.

The purpose of this article is not to scare you, it’s to inform you so you can make the best decision for you and your family.