Cell Phones: Are They Really Suitable for Children?

Though many people have different opinions about cell phones are an unnecessary disturbance to children, it may be useful at some cases. Let's review the positives and negatives of children having a cell phone.

There are some positives things about children owning a cell phone. First of all, they improve the bond between parents and kids. When I was growing up, children with cell phone would call their parents after their school was done and tell them how it was. Another great reason about having a cell phone if your child is in an emergency, a guardian can know. Some emergencies are medical, natural disasters (Tornado, Earthquake, etc.), or hostage/bomb threats. The parents can know and will come to their side if needed. Children with cell phones can be tracked down if they are lost under the debris of a shambolic natural disaster. They can also contact their parents if they are late for an extracurricular activity. There is one case in which a child had been kidnapped by a child molester/murderer and was in the trunk of a car. Fortunately, she had a cell phone which allowed her to call 911 and her parents who found out where she was. If she didn't have a cell phone, she would have definitely assassinated. Children with cell phones can also interact with their friends and be more social.

Along with the positives, there are also negatives about having a cell phone. First, it distracts people from their studies. Also, it may also interrupt something important such as a classroom lesson. However, this problem can easily be solved by switching to OFF mode. Children and teens tend to use cell phone's capabilities to their own advantage. If the cell phone has a keyboard for IM, they would IM their friends in middle of the class disrupting their own knowledge. Some teens also try to cheat by sending answers of a test in secret under the desk to friends who are going to take the test later. The monthly plans can also be expensive for smart phones. Children in Elementary School might find their cell phones missing because someone might have stolen it because it scarce in lower grades. However, in middle school and high schools cell phones are much more abundant. Overuse of cell phones in children can also cause brain damage to their growing brain.

So we have reviewed the positives and negatives about children and teens having a cell phone. Children who are responsible and honest should deserve a cell phone because the positives outnumber the negatives. However, kids who aren't responsible or have cheated before should wait till high school or college to get a cell phone.

This is a list showing some cell phones which are suitable to children

1. Verizon Migo
2. Disney Mobile
3. TickTalk Enforma
4. Cingular Firefly

This is a list showing cell phones which aren't recommended for children

1. iPhone
2. Palm
3. BlackBerry
4. Helio Ocean
5. BlackJack
6. LG Voyager