By MIKE MONTALTO
It was not long ago that cell phones were used by adults only. Children didn’t have too much of an interest a new device that could only make phone calls However, today’s youth who were born into a world of smartphones and other advanced technology it is becoming the norm for children as young as three and four years old using smartphones.
It’s hard to deny the access of a smartphone to a young child when they were born into a world dominated by them, but parents need to consider if it is appropriate for their children to wield this technology.
“I can’t tell you how many kids I see glued to an iPhone or an iPad,” said Taylor Henderson, 21, a student a Kean University and teacher’s assistant at The Godard School in Old Bridge, New Jersey. “I’ve seen children as young as five with one.”
Taylor Henderson with one of her students at the Godard School. Photo courtesy of the Henderson Family
It is natural for children to want to imitate the actions of adults, but parents need to consider if giving a young child a smartphone is a wise decision.
Excessive smartphone use by young children can create problems because some children may find communicating through the phone as an acceptable means of everyday communication and may develop social problems in real life situations.
According to a poll conducted by eMarketer, 25 percent of children between ages two and five own a smartphone. Between ages six and nine, the figure rises to 39 percent and between ages 10 and 13, 56 percent own a smartphone.
Henderson said that parents should look into other options for today’s technology hungry children.
“My cousin is eight and wanted a iPhone,” she said. “My uncle got him an iPod Touch instead. It basically does everything the iPhone can, but it uses Wi-Fi only.”
A Wi-Fi only iPod or iPad removes the burden of a costly data plan, and will allow the child to play games and use other apps they want a smartphone for. It also limits the amount of time a child can spend on the device since any apps that require Internet access can only be used in Wi-Fi areas.
“My cousin texts me using an app on his iPod, it’s adorable,” Henderson said. “He plays games on it too. It was a smart move by my uncle because my cousin is happy and my uncle avoids paying for a data plan.”
However, the major argument for young children having a smartphone is that in today’s unpredictable and scary world, parents want to be able to reach their children in case of an emergency. Wi-Fi only devices are not able to make direct phone calls.
iPhones have become one of the most popular smartphones, especially among young smartphone users. Photo by Mike Montalto
That’s why some parents like Jane Morris, 48, of Matawan, New Jersey consider buying a smartphone for their kids.
“If my son was in any kind of danger, I would want him to be able to call me,” Morris said. “He does use it for games and other things, but safety is the reason he has one.”
Though they have severely decreased in popularity, parents may consider buying a cellphone without Internet connection for emergencies, but this can leave children jealous of their technologically savvy classmates.
Another option for weary parents is to set a limit for the screen time each day on their child’s device. Most smart phones and other mobile devices now have this feature built in and the screen will lock after a pre-determined amount of usage time.
Tablets and other Wi-Fi only devices are a smart choice for parents who’s children want to keep up with today’s technology. Photo by Mike Montalto
With technology developing at a faster rate than ever, and with eager adults waiting to get their hands on the next big thing, can we really blame children for wanting to keep up with the rest of the hi-tech world?
“It’s almost becoming the norm for children to have a smartphone,” Henderson said. “I think if the parents didn’t spend so much time on their own phones, children would be less inclined to use theirs as much. Kids imitate adults, so the first way to get kids away from the phone is to put it down ourselves.”