Kids and Cell Phones
Do you know where your kids are? For many parents the answer is a resounding yes; they always know where their kids are. Cell phones have changed family life in many ways. They provide parents with peace of mind, and they re great in emergencies. Family members can always reach each other or call 911. Cell phones are also convenient and time saving. Kids can let parents know where they are, when they need to be picked up, when they ll be late, and just generally what s happening. Parents can let children know if their plans change, whether they ll be late, and where to meet. In many ways, cell phones make life easier and safer.
Marianne, 16, has just earned her driver s license and wants to know she can call for help if her car breaks down.
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Sylvan, 14, has several after school activities and lets his parents know when he s going to be late.
Alana, 10, who just moved to a new neighborhood, calls home when she s not sure about directions.
Josh, 11, whose parents both work, lets them know when he gets patagonia black hole for salehome from school.
Estimates of how many middle school studentpatagonia better sweater full-zip hoody jacket - women's2s own cell phones range from over 40% to 75%, with even higher rates for high school students.
The downside of cell phones
As with many technological innovations, there are some possible negative aspects of cell phones that parents should be aware of:
Cell phones are not just for talking. As the technology becomes more and more sophisticated, kids can use cell phones to do lotpatagonia buy uks of other things without their parents knowledge. With some phones kids can take pictures, text message or surf the Web for videos and games. They can also download pictures, videos, and music. Cell phones allow kids to keep their contacts secret and can facilitate contact with bad influences. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has reported that some teens are using technology and the Internet to get drug information, and cell phones provide instant access to information and sources of drugs. Accopatagonia az land for salerding to their report, 60% opatagonia better sweater girlsf teens have their own cell phones and 19 million teens instant message.
New features such as color and added power may provide games and videos of questionable content. Game ratings are not available on cell phones, so parents will have less knowledge or control of their children s activities than they have of children s use of home computers.
Cell phones offer opportunities for undesirable behavior, such as cheating on tests or teen dating abuse. Teens have reported that they have been called names, harassed, put down by their partner, or asked to engage in sex through cell phones and texting. They have also reported that boyfriends/girlfriends sharing private or embarrassing pictures/videos on cell phones and computers is a serious problem.
Since parents have demonstrated that they re willing to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing where their kids are, cell phone plans, particularly family plans, are proliferating. Preteens and teens represent a significant source of revenue for phone manufacturers, and younger children arepatagonia better sweater full-zip hoody jacket - women's also being targeted with the marketing of simple entry level phones. Industry spending on advertising to children has increased during the last decade from $100 million in 1990 to mpatagonia better sweater full-zip hoody jacket - women's3ore than $2 billion in 2000.
The issue of safety and the impact of cell phones on the developing brain is still unresolved. The FDA has taken the position that there is no evidence that cell phones can cause harm. The use of headsets is recommended, however.
When is a child ready for a cell phone?
Cell phones have become a status symbol, and even young children are cpatagonia discount code vistaprintlamoring for them. The decision to give a child a cell phone should depend not only on need but also on whether or not s/he can be responsible for taking care of it. Children patagonia everlong review activitieshave been known to lose the phone, bury it in a backpack, forget to turn it patagonia better sweater full-zip hoody jacket - women's1on, lend it to a friend, etc. Some schools permit the use of phones only in the parking lots and bus and parent pickup spots.
Guidelines for parents
Monitor your children s use of all technological devices.
Take precautions with your children s use of cell phones. Text messaging enables children and adolescents to be in touch with and to makepatagonia everlong review 19 plans with people without parental knowledge. Know your children s cell phone contact list.
Be specific about cell phone use and set up specific rules about how and when the phone will be used. Set a limit on how much time children can use each month and how many text messages they can send and receive.
Plan for cell phone costs. Together with teenagers, investigate all options, such as the possible advantages of adding a line to a parent s phone. Monitor the monthly cell phone bill to see how children are spending their minutes and discuss the results with them. Keep track of additional service costs, such as ring tones, photos and text messages.
Determpatagonia guide pants don't fitine how teenagers will contribute to the costs.
Emphasize and enforce the rule that teens should never use a cell phone while driving.
Establish rules of etiquette, such as never using a cell phone within 20 feet of another person, phones should be turned off in places where they might disturb other people, private conversations should not take place in public places.
While cell phones have many patagonia hiking shoes onlineadvantages for parents and children, it is important to keep in mind the changing needs of children at different ages to insure their healthy development.
