Kids And Cell Phones…Necessity Or Frivolity?

“When I was a kid, we didn’t have fancy things like fresh drinking water!” I can still hear Dana Carvey spoofing the age old tradition of elderly story telling. It was a very funny Saturday Night Live skit, until I heard myself echoing those very same sentiments the other night. After I picked my jaw up off the ground and checked for newly sprouted gray hairs, I returned the the kitchen conversation between my nine year old and my husband.

“But Dad, all the girls at my school have cell phones! When can I have one?” Marlie stood with her arms crossed, trying desperately to plead a case that she had no chance of winning. Despite our explanation that she had no reason to be in possession of such a device, Marlie could not fathom why we would not indulge her wish to be like all the other girls. Dad tried to break it down for her, “Cell phones are necessities for people who need to contact somebody and have no means of doing so. You are only away from us during school hours and can always use the school phone if need be. When you are visiting family or friends, you may use their phone. There is never a time when you are without a means of contacting us. When that time comes, we will consider getting you a cell phone. End of story.”

Marlie stormed off to her room, where she could sulk in solitude. Dad and I wondered how many kids really carry cell phones, these days. So I did a little research.  The site www.cellnumbers.com, states that over fifty percent of American children, own a cell phone. That statistic was derived in the year 2005. I’m positive that it has gone up since then. In my opinion, the only reason that a child needs a cell phone is if that child is somewhere without a parent or guardian. I’m not sure why any elementary aged child would be in that situation, but I’m sure it happens.

I do think that once a child reaches junior high age, a cell phone is important for communication purposes. This is usually the age that kids take part in after school sports and attend social gatherings, without a parent present. But before then, a parent or guardian should always be present for safety reasons. I’m sure that some of you would disagree with my theory on kids and cell phone possession. I just don’t see how it is necessary for a young child to have such a device, when they shouldn’t be in the position where they would need one, in the first place. Am I right, or should I go buy myself a cane and hearing aids to complete my transformation into an old fart?