A study published by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that the Internet and cell phones, for many families, bring them closer together.   Even a decade ago we would say good-bye to each other in the morning and not see each other until the evening to catch up on the day’s news.   Today, this is more and more a rare occurrence.  Texting, voice mail, Twitter, and email all enable us to have instant contact with those we love.

For couples, being able to have touchpoints during the day and being able to keep connected with busy schedules is a life-saver.  We wonder what we did before cell phones.   For kids, with their still developing brains, this explosion of ways to keep in touch not only with their parents, but more importantly, for them, with their friends is nothing short of a miracle.  Used to be you had to fight for time on the family phone, leashed by a cord to a wall.  Now communication is anytime, any place.  What’s not to love?  The number one reason parents buy a cell phone for their child is for safety, so they can connect any time they need to.  Does this bring families closer together?  Of course it does.  If I’m talking to my child several times a day, even by cell phone, that certainly makes me feel closer.  I can ask who they are with, what they are doing, and where they are.  The old late excuses don’t work any more.  You can always call.   

When does cell phone use for kids stray into the gray zone?  Do kids really need to text message?  Should they have access to their cell phone any time of the day?   Cell phones, like anything else costs money - money that the parent spends now, but also money that someday the child will have to pay.  Once time and money is involved then responsible use is the goal.   Installing controls on a child’s cell phone to limit use will help that child develop the self control necessary to keep that child from being overwhelmed by the “need” to call.   Limiting the number of text messages also prevents kids from getting their brains hooked into impulsive texting.

Do you have controls on your child’s cell phone?  What are they? 

For more information see our Parent Guide to Cell Phone Use.

Dr. Dave