Cell phones for teenagers

Whether to allow cell phones for children is a burning question every parent faces. On one side, cell phones have their obvious advantage, especially of being able to sty in touch at all times, while on the other hand, the propensity of abuse or misuse is also very much evident.

Whether to entrust a cell phone in the hands of a teenage child is best left to the individual parents and child, depending on the specific circumstances and the maturity of the child. Also, the cell phone need not be a permanent fixture. It need to be entrusted to the child only while making a trip to unfamiliar place, going on an excursion or the like. In routine places, like going to the school where the child will be under close supervision and can easily be traced, there is no need for a cell phone.

Parents handing over cell phones to children would also do well to check the usage history, especially the incoming and outgoing call register. While too much of a probing might be invasion of the teenagers privacy, such probing will help deter the child from moving to the wrong direction.

The children should also be made aware of the po5tential health hazards of using mobile phones continuously. The children should be trained to use the mobile phone as a emergency device and not a plaything.