Cell phones for toddlers?
December 31st 2007 by Dr.MOZ in Toddler Products, Tech and Web
I put together quite a few themed gift lists this December, but one trend that I wasn’t particularly comfortable featuring on the Dear Dr.MOZ blog was cell phones for kids. When I say “kids“, I mean toddlers as young as first and second-grade. According to Verizon Wireless, approximately 25% of children 12 and younger already had cell phones in August of 2006.
I haven’t seen up-to-date numbers, but Yankee Group Research predicts that this number will double by 2010.
I can see how parents would want 24/7 access to their children, but I’m curious to know how they are being used. Toddlers don’t have the freedoms that today’s teens have, which makes me wonder…how many kids in the 6-12 range actually have their own cell phones? Do your kids have a kiddie cells like those above? If so, how are they bing used? Let us know what you think about toddler cell phone trend by clicking on the comments bubble above.
Happy New Year!
Dr.MOZ
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
We give cars to sixteen year olds, why not phones to seven year olds?
My older daughter is only four but I think she’ll have a phone by the time she’s seven. For safety and emergencies.
I don’t see a problem if the kid is taught to use one appropriately.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 am
We’ve seen quite a few modified cell phones with emergency buttons and limited calling features spring up in recent years, so I won’t be surprised if it becomes the norm by the time your daughter reaches seven Brad. I can see how it would be a great tool for emergencies, but it’s just a matter of time before it will be an everyday parenting tool. Cell phones emit electromagnetic radiation, so be sure to research your particular phone before handing them over to young children for more regular use.
~ Dr.MOZ