Cell phones are a normal way of life for most of us. Many kids have cell phones and this is fine, in my opinion. As long as, as a parent, you enforce rules, knowledge and teach your young child the right way to use a cell phone and some guidelines.
The pros of your young child having a cell phone at school are many. Your child may need to get in touch with you immediately during school hours due to illness. Your child may be being bullied and in need of help. Your child may have forgotten their lunch money, their bus number, their allergy information, the place to go after school and many other things. Most kids know how to properly operate a cell phone by the time they reach school age. This knowledge may be life saving and I do think a child needs a cell phone for personal protection, safety and information.
The cons of a young child taking a cell phone to school usually result from a lack of parental guidance. The child needs to know when the right time is to use a cell phone. Before school, during breaks and after school. If an emergency occurs, the child should always be allowed to call their parents. It should be stressed that any child in distress needs to notify the teacher or principal. If this is not possible, for some reason, the cell phone is a vital life line for a young child.
Before ever giving a young child a cell phone to use, rules and procedures need to be explained by the parents. A young child should have knowledge of only using the cell phone in times of emergency. The parent is paying the cell phone bill and controls the features on the cell phone. They can set the limits and usage concerning texting or any other cell phone features. Obviously, a young child should not have a texting feature. They need to know their home phone number, the parent’s work phone numbers, grandparents numbers and these numbers should be written down for the child. Place the written numbers in the child’s backpack, school bag or pocket for easy access.
As long as the rules for using a cell phone are understood by the young child, there should be no problem in sending a cell phone to school with them. All schools have different rules and of course, you must go by those rules. A life of a young child can be helped by having a cell phone available at all times and at their disposal as they need it. It is mind relieving for parents to know that if their child should encounter problems to and from school and during school hours, they are able to easily communicate those issues. I think the pros outweigh the cons and if you wish your young child to have access to a cell phone, they should. As long as proper instruction, rules and guidelines are in place, there should be no problems.
Be sure to practice proper cell phone usage with your young child and make sure that they master the use before sending them off with a cell phone to school. Including written down permission for your child to use the cell phone for an emergency is a good thing to do. When you meet and greet your child’s teachers and principal, be sure and talk to them about your child having and using a cell phone during an emergency. Different schools have different policies and you always want to be on the same page. It is your responsibility, as a parent, to make sure the cell phone is fully charged and ready for each school day. A good rule is to turn the phone on and make a test call each morning before your child leaves. You do not want your child to have a non working cell phone, especially in an emergency situation. None of us can predict emergencies but, as parents, you can see to it that your child has a life line straight to you. It may save their life and give your family precious peace of mind. That is important and priceless.