Buying a cell phone for a youngster

It wasnt so long ago that no children had their own mobile phones. They were very expensive luxuries, even for adults, and parents were naturally reluctant to give their child something that would end up costing them the earth, or worse, landing them in trouble.

Affordable phones with pay as you go contracts, and the introduction of specialised phones for children with parental controls built in have changed all this, however, to the point where nearly half of all children under the age of 15 in the UK have their own cell phone, and this figure is growing all the time.

A cell phone can provide parents with a method of getting in touch with their children in an emergency, or to let them know if they are going to be late. Some phones even come with a GPS device, which allows parents to track the movements of their children via a laptop or a PDA, which could be a lifesaver if they go missing.

Giving a child their own cell phone can be a good way to teach them responsibility, and the value of money. A pay as you go phone will give children an immediate sense of how much their phone use is costing them, and will convince them of the need to limit their phone use for financial reasons.

Some parents worry that mobile phones, like the internet, can expose children to unwelcome influences, or will allow them to go sneaking behind their backs to do things that they have prohibited.

Its perfectly natural that a child should want to talk on the phone for hours to their friends, and that they can do this without realising how much it is costing them, or more likely, you.

Thankfully, there are things that you can do to prevent this from happening. Most of the mobile phones that are aimed specifically at children, such as the Firefly and the LG Migo incorporate parental controls that allow you to restrict mobile phone usage to numbers and times that you approve of, block access to the internet and game downloads, and feature large speed dial buttons for emergencies.

If you do buy a child their own cell phone, it is a good idea to set some clear boundaries for their usage of it, such as not allowing them to use it in the classroom, at the dinner table, or after a certain time at night.

About the Author:
Vodafone offer a huge range of phones and price plans. If you like smart phones, you will love the Samsung Jet with its fast internet for express browsing and downloads.