Texting at Age 10

July 06, 2010, By Catherine Couretas 1 comment

“Hi honey, are you at soccer practice?”

“Yes mom, just got here.”

“Okay have fun, call me before you leave.”

“I’ll call on my way home.”

“No – call before. What’s our rule?”

“Two hands on the wheel, none on the phone.”

“That’s it. Have a good practice.”

Flowtown, a platform for businesses to connect with resources on the web, recently did a study on teens (ages 12 to 17) and cell phone use. According to the study, 75 percent of teens own a cell phone, up from 45 percent in 2004, and 54 percent send text messages daily. Now, the question is whether or not your child needs a cell phone.

In determining whether or not it’s necessary, there are several factors you’ll have to consider.

1. When (during the day) would he or she use it?
Many schools don’t allow cell phones, so you can usually rule that out. Figure out when during the day your child would be unable to access a phone – basically when they won’t be around other adults or in a location where they couldn’t access a landline. If the answer is rarely, then your child probably doesn’t need a phone.

2. Does he or she want a cell phone because their friends have cell phones?
There’s a good chance your child just wants to have one because everybody else does. If this is the case, they probably don’t need one. Explain to them that there will come a time when they can have a cell phone, but right now it’s not necessary.

3. Would it be a distraction?
If you think your child would want it so they could play games and text friends just for fun, it’s not necessary. It will just be one more thing you have to limit their time with. Chances are they’re already familiar with a computer and can access the same sort of tools. Instead, allow them computer time to talk with their friends and play games.

4. Are they driving?
If you have a teenage driver, getting them a cell phone is a good option – as long as they know to obey the rules while driving, which can mean no calls or texts. Though it opens up the dangers of those things happening, a driver can end up stranded anywhere with a flat tire, dead battery or anything else, and you’ll want to make sure they can call for help.

If it isn’t time to get your child a cell phone and they’ve gotten upset about it, explain to them why you’re making that decision. This might be a good time to start looking at other electronics for him or her, such as an MP3 player or a basic digital camera, both of which you can find for $80 or less. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can give your child an iPod Touch. Starting at $199, these give kids the option to game and listen to music, and applications are available for them to send text messages to friends who have phones as long as they’re in a wireless network.

If it is time to get them a phone, choose wisely. Know when it’s necessary for them to carry the phone and whether or not they can have it at school – and if there are parental controls that might interest you. Sometimes starting off with a prepaid phone, such as those offered by AT&T and Verizon Wireless, is more practical. This can be a less expensive option and, if your child is earning an allowance, can help them learn more about money if you want them to pay for some of the minutes and text messages they use.

Catherine Couretas is a freelancer at Barefoot Proximity and a regular contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.