Community Corner

Mom's Talk Q&A: When Should a Child Get Their Own Technology

Each week Edgewater Patch will host a forum for parenting topics.

Is your eight-year-old clamoring for a cell phone? An iPod? Does your ten-year-old want a Facebook page? A computer in their room?

At what point is it OK to say yes?

On the plus side, there are cellphones like the Firefly, that parents can program to only call the numbers specified by the person with the proper access codes. Some phones have GPS trackers so that it is easy for parents to know exactly where children are at all times.

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On the downside, local guidance counselors report that Facebook is a commonly used tool for bullying students as young as fourth grade. In addition, school administrators say that the cool devices often make children targets for theft.

So how young is too young? How did you deal with getting your child his/her first phone/iPod/Facebook?

Find out what's happening in Edgewater-Davidsonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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