Should Children Have Mobile Phones?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

A recent survey suggests that 9 out of 10 children in the UK own a mobile phone. But many parents are concerned about the physical, emotional and psychological risks of regularly using mobile phones at a young age. So, should children be allowed to have their own mobile phones?

 

Yes – Fiona

My daughter is 13 and has had her own phone since she was 11. As a parent, it’s really reassuring to know that she is able to get hold of me anytime. It makes me feel confident that she’s safe when I can’t be with her such as when she’s walking to and from school or out playing with her friends. And if I’m running late to pick her up, I can let her know rather than leave her wondering where I am.

My son is 16 and likes to stay out late with his mates on an evening. Being able to send him a text to check he’s okay is great. It means I don’t have to embarrass him by phoning his friends’ mothers to track him down or drive round looking for him.

It can be annoying when the kids are attached to their phones all the time but to be honest, most adults are just as bad. Mobile phones aren’t going to go away – they are part of modern life now and so I think it’s good for children to learn how to use them from a young age. They also help my kids to have a good social life – they are never bored because they can always find a friend to talk to or meet up with using their phone.

 

 

No – Vikram

I think it’s really sad to see children as young as eight or nine using mobile phones. It’s just another way in which they are being forced to grow up too quickly. School-age children simply don’t need phones – their parents should know where they are without having to rely on a phone to track them down.

Of course, mobile phones do so much more than simply make phone calls these days which makes the problems worse. I’ve seen young children use their phone pretty much every waking hour – whether they are texting, playing games or checking social network websites for messages. This means that they are not engaging in other healthier past times such as playing outdoors or trying new hobbies.

Children have become obsessed with mobile phones and it makes it difficult to have conversations with them as they can’t focus for more than a few minutes withoutlooking at their phone. I’ve heard reports from parents who say that their children are constantly checking their phone at the dinner table or even using it to message their friends in the early hours of the morning.

There is of course also the worry of potential radiation caused by using mobile phones. Children’s and teenager’s bodies are still developing and it’s unclear what affect using mobile phones has on young bodies.

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Categories: Children, mobile, mobile phones, nbsp, phone, Phones, phones nbsp, young age

Should Children Have Mobile Phones?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

A recent survey suggests that 9 out of 10 children in the UK own a mobile phone. But many parents are concerned about the physical, emotional and psychological risks of regularly using mobile phones at a young age. So, should children be allowed to have their own mobile phones?

 

Yes – Fiona

My daughter is 13 and has had her own phone since she was 11. As a parent, it’s really reassuring to know that she is able to get hold of me anytime. It makes me feel confident that she’s safe when I can’t be with her such as when she’s walking to and from school or out playing with her friends. And if I’m running late to pick her up, I can let her know rather than leave her wondering where I am.

My son is 16 and likes to stay out late with his mates on an evening. Being able to send him a text to check he’s okay is great. It means I don’t have to embarrass him by phoning his friends’ mothers to track him down or drive round looking for him.

It can be annoying when the kids are attached to their phones all the time but to be honest, most adults are just as bad. Mobile phones aren’t going to go away – they are part of modern life now and so I think it’s good for children to learn how to use them from a young age. They also help my kids to have a good social life – they are never bored because they can always find a friend to talk to or meet up with using their phone.

 

 

No – Vikram

I think it’s really sad to see children as young as eight or nine using mobile phones. It’s just another way in which they are being forced to grow up too quickly. School-age children simply don’t need phones – their parents should know where they are without having to rely on a phone to track them down.

Of course, mobile phones do so much more than simply make phone calls these days which makes the problems worse. I’ve seen young children use their phone pretty much every waking hour – whether they are texting, playing games or checking social network websites for messages. This means that they are not engaging in other healthier past times such as playing outdoors or trying new hobbies.

Children have become obsessed with mobile phones and it makes it difficult to have conversations with them as they can’t focus for more than a few minutes withoutlooking at their phone. I’ve heard reports from parents who say that their children are constantly checking their phone at the dinner table or even using it to message their friends in the early hours of the morning.

There is of course also the worry of potential radiation caused by using mobile phones. Children’s and teenager’s bodies are still developing and it’s unclear what affect using mobile phones has on young bodies.

Categories: Children, mobile, mobile phones, phone, Phones, phones nbsp, young, young age

New Phone? How to Get Rid of Your Old Device

With Earth Day not long gone, now is the perfect time to remember the simple values of environmental wellness. Whether you need to work on turning things off when you don’t need to use them, or simply just remembering to make sure your crisp packet ends up in the bin when you’re finished with it, there’s always something you can do to make a positive impact on the planet’s wellbeing. A great place to start is with your mobile phone.

The proper disposal of mobile phones is important to the environment, and throwing them into the bin should never be an option. You can sell your phone, donate it or even trade it in and get money off your new one, but if these options run out, you should always recycle your electronics. If your phone is busted and no one will be able to get any use out of it, recycling is a great way to go – but that doesn’t mean you have a long way to go before you reach your local recycling.

These days, a lot of shops and carriers will recycle your phone for you. Best Buy, Staples, Office Depot, exPhone, your carrier’s shop or your manufacturer’s website may be good places to take your phone off your hands. You won’t get much more than a “thank you” going down this route, but you’ll at least be secure in the knowledge that your device will go through the proper channels of disposal or reuse instead of ending up in a landfill somewhere. If you send in your device to Envirophone, you could even get some money out of it.

If you want more than a pat on the head when you get rid of your old devices, selling them will help you do your bit for the planet, and your bank balance! Presumably, if you’re getting rid of your old phone, you’re going to need a new one and so selling your old devices can help you to get the money you need towards it. Many users sell their devices on online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay or Gumtree. However, if you have an Android device, Swappa is your best bet as this site is used exclusively for trading and selling Android phones.

New Phone? How to Get Rid of Your Old Device

Categories: Device, devices, money, phone, Phones, recycling, Selling