The world as we know it changes immensely everyday. Never an insipid moment has inspired a world like no other. It seems the children are getting younger and younger with cellular phones. To me it’s getting pretty ridiculous but it maybe because I grew up old-school (sorta). Children As young as 5 and 6 have some form of a cellular device in which they can call and receive calls. But when is enough, enough? According to a poll 10-11 is the target age a child should receive a cell phone (http://pediatrics.about.com/gi/pages/poll.htm?poll_id=0834529331&linkback=http://pediatrics.about.com/library/polls/blpoll_cellphones.htm). This is a reasonable age if you ask me. So what is the reason a child feels the need to have a cell phone?
Well parents play a big factor in the age a child gets a cell phone. Many parents opt to get there child a cell phone the moment they begin extracurricular activities and are away from mom and dad more often. They feel it’s just a security blanket . . . being able to contact them any moment in the day.
Cell phone companies have recently been targeting children showing them all the features and amenities available. Children want grown-up things and want to feel important. A cell phone gives them their privacy and responsibility. This is a plus for teens who feel their parents are always looking over their shoulders. And as technology advances, children can hide anything from their parents on their cell phones. Many parents don’t know/ think their child can or will access all the available technology but children aren’t stupid and are most adventurous when younger. The popularity continues to grow partly because a cell phones now-a-day is a video game console, MP3 player, telephone, computer, GPS system, high tech camera, calculator and a calendar. . . So shouldn’t these kids want one? What age do you think is appropriate?
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They have something called the firefly phone which only has like 5 buttons or so and only programed to call the numbers the parents put into and things like 911, etc. That seems good for kids, not as young as five though. But I remeber if I were sick or if I needed something at school I'd have to wait forever to use the phone at the school office. I dont think its a huge problem until they get like 13 and start racking up the phone bill,lol :)
Heres a pic of the firefly cell phone: http://www.devlib.org/images/M_images/firefly2.jpg
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