Does a kindergartener need a cell phone?
Some of the kindergarten aged kids in our neighborhood have cell phones. I think this is totally insane. But perhaps I'm just old fashioned. What age to people think kids should start carrying a cell phone?
Posted by:
Danielle
Reply from:
evitacheng Date: Jun 20, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Reply from:
Rose Garrett
Date: Jan 18, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I think that kids should start carrying cell phones when there is no longer an adult in charge of monitoring them. At the kindergarten level, your child is constantly in the presence of an adult, who presumably has his or her own phone which you can use to contact your child. At the late elementary/middle school level, kids are own their own for a period of time each day.
I also think that we as a culture should reassess exactly what cell phones are for, and why kids should use them. Video, text messaging, photo capability, etc. is really not necessary for anyone, let alone a young child whose time could be better spent.
Reply from:
Rika
Date: Jan 18, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I cannot even imagine my kindergartner carrying a cell phone (he does carry my old, not functioning cell phone)! I agree with Rose, that in some instances when older children are on their own for some time, or come home before the parents do, a cell phone (without gadgets) can be essential for their safety. Cell phones should not be handled by children as cool accessories and teenagers carrying a cell phone should, in my opinion, contribute to the cell phone plan in order to to teach financial responsibility and self-discipline.
Reply from:
Myra Bryan
Date: Jan 19, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Reply from:
Edu-Katherine Date: Jan 19, 2008 at 7:09 pm
This is a great question. While phoning and text messaging friends can be a distraction and cause problems, I'm sure there are circumstances when it would be a good idea. For example, I have a diabetic nephew who carried a cell phone throughout elementary school so he could call home if there were any problems. In a medical situation, it might be a good idea. Perhaps it's really an individual case by case thing.
Edu-Katherine
Community Team
Reply from:
Johanna Sorrentino
Date: Feb 4, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Emily Post Senning, the granddaughter of manners guru Emily Post, has some very interesting things to say about this topic. Feel free to check out an article on this site about her ideas. Here's the link:
http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Teach_Your_Kids_Cell_Phone/
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