What Age Is An Appropriate Cell Phone Age? Word Count: 433 Summary: The demands of kids are getting more and more difficult to keep up with. Once upon a time the biggest thing on a twelve year-old’s wish list was a new bicycle. Now kids want cell phones at younger and younger ages. How old is old enough to purchase the ever desired cell phone? How young is too young? Cell phone shopping for younger children can be very difficult. Depending on the age of the child it is possible they have not developed enough self restraint to handle a cell... Keywords: cell phones Article Body: The demands of kids are getting more and more difficult to keep up with. Once upon a time the biggest thing on a twelve year-old’s wish list was a new bicycle. Now kids want cell phones at younger and younger ages. How old is old enough to purchase the ever desired cell phone? How young is too young? Cell phone shopping for younger children can be very difficult. Depending on the age of the child it is possible they have not developed enough self restraint to handle a cell phone. School work may suffer as may other social relationships. Cell phones now come with internet access, which can present dangers unknown to your child. Easily downloadable information may not be age appropriate. Cell phones also offer children private communication abilities through text messaging. It is not necessary to activate all of the possible features that come with a cell phone, but understanding your own child’s limitations can help you know what is truly appropriate for them at their age. Private texting can lead to highly inappropriate conversations. Unlike instant messaging or phone conversations, texts can be deleted permanently and a parent has no recourse to determine whether a child is having innocent conversations with their friends or are being enticed into dangerous and self destructive behaviors. They now have cell phones more appropriately geared toward young children. These phones come with a parental control feature that allow access to preset phone numbers such as reaching mom at work, 911 access, and several preset phone numbers of the parents choice, The cell phone requires a pass code to access any changes to the phone’s capabilities to prevent the child from listing their own phone numbers in their cell phone. The appropriate age for taking a child cell phone shopping is truly up to the parent. If a parent thinks that a cell phone has beneficial uses for their child and can handle the limitations imposed as well as basic honesty, then cell phones can be excellent lessons in responsibility. Cell phones can help teach self imposed limitations as well as enhance parental communications. A parent can reach their child at all times to inform them of changes or request their presence at home. Cell phones can be vital in an emergency. While nobody ever expects an emergency to occur, in the event of one your child and you can remain in communication if they have a cell phone. Sometimes it can be the safest form of communication in an emergency situation. Children who have cell phones can almost always reach their parent.