Dear Dr. Pat:
Just curious for your opinion on when is the right age for a child to have a cell phone. We are letting our daughter, who is in Grade 5, walk home on her own after school a few times a week, and I'm considering a phone for her. I'm just concerned with the texting and lack of control.
Dr Pat responds:
There is no specific age when a child should use a cell phone. Your interest is in your child’s use of a phone for safety. I would say go ahead. You can control her use of texting by setting down strict rules of whom she is to text. Depending on the plan with the telephone company, you may be able to track her use.
You have every right to monitor her use.
A cell phone is a tool. It does have benefits but also risk. You can minimize risks by keeping in close touch with your daughter’s use.
For information about risks associated with cell phones and online tools, such as cyberbullying, see our page on Internet and Social Media.
Note: There have been concerns raised about the health risks of excessive cell phone use in children but the data are not clear. See for example our article on whether cell phones cause cancer or the Health Canada article about the safety of cell phones. Both articles stress the importance of using the texting feature rather than holding the phone up to the ear for long periods of time.