Cell phones make their way on to school shopping lists
HOUSTON -- (July 24, 2008) -- Parents are starting to make out their back-to-school shopping lists, and along with the usual notebooks, backpacks, pens and pencils, they may find their children urging them to add another item – a cell phone.
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Before letting their kids enter the electronic age of cell phones, music players and personal computers, parents must first make sure they are ready to handle the responsibility, says a Baylor College of Medicine expert in adolescent behavior.
Advantages
"Most kids are about 11 or 12 when they get a cell phone," said Dr. John Sargent, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at BCM, "but even more important than their age is their level of responsibility."
For those adolescents who are ready for a phone, there are many advantages, Sargent noted. Parents are able to keep tabs on their children, plus youngsters can learn important lessons about handling responsibility and setting limits.
Setting limits
But there are a few things parents should keep in mind before buying that new cell phone.
Parents must set guidelines and limits on cell phone use. "No matter what age your child is, if they're in your home, there needs to be supervision."
This includes establishing how many minutes a month your child is allowed to talk on the phone – which can be monitored easily by parents – and how late they are allowed to talk.
Nighttime vigil
Sargent noted that nighttime is when a lot of problems can occur with electronics – like arguing with friends over the phone, staying on the phone too long, visiting inappropriate web sites or staying up too late playing games.
"Parents should be especially aware of what's going on at night," he said. "What you really want is for your child to start to wind down, and if the opposite is happening, it can lead to sleep problems that are disruptive to their education."
Consequences
If those limits are abused, then there needs to be consequences, Sargent urged.
"Children need to understand that they are not entitled to a cell phone or any other electronic device. These are privileges, and they can be removed if they are misused."
If this occurs, parents should take the cell phone away for a short period of time. However, if parents determine that their child just isn't ready for the responsibility, they should take the cell phone away for a longer period of time.
Parents should also require that their child contribute to the cost of a cell phone, even if it's only a minimal amount, Sargent said. Kids will take more responsibility for their phone if they are helping to pay for it.