What's the Right Age for Your Kids to Get a Cell Phone?

WISCONSIN -- It seems like there's never a right answer when it comes to the right age to either 1) issue your child a cell phone or 2) allowing them to purchase and manage their own phone.

If you're like many parents that are currently raising elementary, middle, or high-school-aged children, you remember your own childhood:

• You grew up with a wall-mounted telephone with a 6-foot cord.
• Cordless phones were controversial because they always seemed to get lost in the house.
• You planned family events and trips in advance and then told others when you'd be home.
• You carried change with you in case you needed to use a pay phone.
• Your first task when you got home was to check the answering machine.

According to a quick study by consumer website Wallethub, growing up in the technology age has its fair share of benefits: instant access to endless educational possibilities and preparation for the jobs of the future, just to name a couple. But it also exposes young people to a host of issues like cyberbullying and sex crimes.

They brought together a panel of experts to touch upon some of the issues why your child should not have a cell phone:

Ross Hunter // Director, Washington State Department of Early Learning: There is increasing evidence of addiction to electronic devices, which like any other kind of addiction is destructive.

Georgia S. Thompson // Vice President of the Programs and Affiliate Network, National Black Child Development Institute: "We go to great lengths to protect the child brain with car seats and bike helmets, yet we are exposing them now to an agent that many governments control/ban/restrict.

Delaying the Inevitable

If you're a parent of a school-aged child, you know in the back of your mind that it's simply a matter of time before your son or daughter's continual push for independence tips the balance in the cell phone realm.

Cars, after-school activities and after-school jobs push the needs for tighter communication and planning across the family landscape and, dear mom and dad, what better need for a cell phone?

Increased Risk

Teenagers like to communicate. A lot. And you know that voice call overages and data overages are just a short hop away from signing that first phone contract. But there's much more to be concerned about. Cyberbullying on social media is quickly becoming one of the top issues in schools, and the number of unregulated social interactions possible at any time of the day has mushroomed into yet another worry.

Parental Controls

For parents who are seriously considering the plunge, there is hope on several fronts. From setting limits on screen time, house rules and a parent-child contract governing cell phone use, there are more technological solutions that help parents monitor a variety of smartphone functions such as: app installation, in-phone purchases, phone calls, text and SMS messages and social media messaging.

When it comes to parental controls, the New York Times says thatiPhones beat Android-based phones when it comes to parental controls. PC Magazine has come up with a list of 2016's best parental control apps that parents can use to govern any combination of the above-mentioned dimensions - some of which are free!

>>> image via wikipedia creative commons