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  Forum  Parenting  Parenting infor...  Are the risks worth the benefits when it comes to mobile phones and children?
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New Post 5/11/2008 9:55 AM
  host
28 posts
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Are the risks worth the benefits when it comes to mobile phones and children? 
Modified By host  on 4/11/2008 7:57:27 PM)

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Mobile phone use is at an all time high with 90 percent of children under the age of 16 reporting regular mobile use, as well as 40 percent of those in primary school.

Research has shown that mobile phone use in children increases the risk of brain tumour fivefold as children’s brains and nervous systems are still developing and cellular radiation is able to penetrate deeper through still forming skulls.

Parents are providing their children with mobile phones for safety and security reasons from increasingly young ages, not realising that the earlier their child comes in contact with the devices, the higher their risk of brain tumour – malignant or otherwise. Some mobile phones are even marketed to children as young as six years of age.

To protect your child’s health while keeping them safely in contact, experts encourage the use of hands-free headsets and text messaging.  Knowing this, do you feel confident allowing your child to use a mobile phone? Do the risks outweigh the benefits? Would your child be willing and able to use a hands-free headset and/or text messaging? Also, what age do you feel is appropriate for a child to begin mobile use?

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New Post 6/11/2008 6:54 AM
  robinson
184 posts
5th Level Poster


Re: Are the risks worth the benefits when it comes to mobile phones and children? 

WIth a husband in the telecommunications industry our daughters already have a mobile number (personalised) but dont have a mobile phone! We have put away their sim cards for the future.

They are only almost 3 and youngest has just turned 13 months so definately way to young.

Our daughters wont be given a phone until they start at high school / turn 13, but may be given the phone on outings to the movies etc with friends to text mummy and daddy if needed.

Mobile phones only became big when I was in high school so I am lucky, but I am horrified to see how young some kids are with phones these days. From what I understand parents give them a phone so they feel more secure but what is a phone going to do? The risk of getting tumours is what I'd say more likely to happen than your child getting into trouble while at the movies / at a friends house for this age group anyway. Kids under high school age are usually followed closely by Mum and Dad and dont venture out on their own.

We can never do enough to keep our children safe, however I do feel confident that text messaging is alot safer than holding the phone directly to your ear, I remember when the mobiles first became popular in highschool, I was given one and spent hours at night on them to friends (who i had seen only a few hours ago at school and was seeing again the next day, but it was fun.. and it was cheap) who knows that damage that did to my brain cells.

But my question is why do Six year olds need phones??? Where are they that warrant the need for a mobile, when my kids are six they wont be going anywhere where they will need a mobile! Kids need to be Kids!

Thanks :)

 


Domestic Goddess to One Husband and Two Little Princesses!!
 
New Post 7/11/2008 4:55 PM
  simpsons
3 posts
No Ranking


Re: Are the risks worth the benefits when it comes to mobile phones and children? 

Wow that's a real eye opener! My husband always tells me to turn my phone off at night and I didn't really see the point! Now I understand! Although he needs to leave his on 'for work.'  I'm sure we will try to justify the use of mobile phones with our children with the fact that 'they're only texting'. I always say I will just text but I get lazy and call! I don't feel comfortable letting my child use a mobile phone. I'm so over protective I try not to let her out of my sight so I won't need to call and check up on her anyway :) I think an appropriate age is up to the individual and the parents of the child. I had a mobile phone at 12, my brother at 9 and we were very responsible and only used it to contact mum and dad at the best of times. Maybe we can use alternatives to keep in contact with out children?! Purhaps a laptop? A pager? Or a rope would be more cost effective! :)

 
New Post 10/11/2008 11:55 AM
  kristih
2 posts
No Ranking


Re: Are the risks worth the benefits when it comes to mobile phones and children? 

Those stats are quite eye opening.  I think mobile phones do serve a useful purpose in our lives, but like everything, need to be used in moderation.  I know of too many teenagers who are glued to their phones night and day, and believe we don't really know what this is doing to them in the long term.  I don't think kids need their own phones until they start high school, as generally, before then they are always supervised.  I have an 11 year old step-daughter who will get one when she starts hight school, and I think it will be the same for my 10 month old son.

 

Texting is great to send a quick message, especially if it is a safer option, as are hands free.  Smaller children I think would be fine with a hands free kit when supervised, which they should be anyway.  In my view moderation is the key.

 
New Post 11/11/2008 2:06 PM
  babysaurs
20 posts
No Ranking


Re: Are the risks worth the benefits when it comes to mobile phones and children? 

Coming from a family that has been closely affected by cancer i find this information quite allarming!

Not only that but my 14month old boys favourite toy is a toy mobile!!! One of the first things he learned to do was put it to his hear and say hello...........and i didnt think i used a mobile or any other phone that much. Children learn by what they see......

I think that the problem today is that we dont really know what we actually NEED and what we want and that they are both different. To be honest i think that there are actually only a few people that MUST have a mobile, others just have them for ease and luxary, although there is nothing wrong with that.

However when it come to children and teenagers haveing mobiles then i feel differently. MOST do not need them in my opinion. Why do young children need them? They dont need them at school as there are phones at the school to use if the need to. Dont thier friends have home phones to use too? Or is it just to be "cool"?

I can certainly understand why teenagers who are driving have them though, more for peace of mind for the parent s if something happens.

Its a personal decission for every parent to make though, but as far as im concerned my children will not have mobile until they NEED them, not when they want them. The risks are too great for me.............

 
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