Should Fifth Graders Have iPhones?

Safety

• In some states, a fifth grader is old enough to stay home alone. For those kids who are home alone after school, having an iPhone may be a matter of safety. Your child needs a method of communicating with the outside world, and you need a way to get in touch. A land line will work for when he's at home, but if your child is walking or riding the bus, you may want to get in touch during transit times. In fact, iPhones have another added advantage: you'll be able to track your child's whereabouts through the phone. By downloading applications that track the device's location, you can find out where your child is at all times.

Responsibility

• Before you make the decision though, consider your child's level of responsibility. If you want him to have the phone with him for communication, your child has to be responsible enough to keep it in a safe place and to have it when he needs it. If you frequently remind your child to keep track of his belongings or he has a difficult time staying organized, having an expensive iPhone might not be the best option for you and your sanity. You may be the one constantly reminding him to have it with him when he needs it, or helping him find it when it gets lost.

Cost

• Your fifth grader's level of responsibility also begs the question: how much is the iPhone going to end up costing you? If you're having to replace the phone every few months when it gets lost, it may be more trouble than it's worth. You might consider buying her a less expensive phone and see how it goes. Other phones may be limited to just calling and texting, but you'll still be able to get a hold of her when you need to. Another option: have your child "buy" the phone herself by doing chores or saving up her birthday money. That can teach her the high cost of electronics and the consequences of losing them.

Setting Limits

• Smart phones such as the iPhone have a lot of additional bells and whistles, including a music player, video player and access to online games and apps. When you're trying to decide what type of phone to get for your child, you may want to consider her current habits with electronics. If you're concerned about her spending all day playing games and ignoring homework, you may decide that an iPhone is too much of a daily battle. However, it could give your child access to educational games and new learning experiences that can be quite valuable -- especially if you don't have other computer access in your home. If you do decide to buy her an iPhone, set limits. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids should get no more than 1 to 2 hours of screen time each day. To help with the daily battle, try downloading a "screen time" app that limits the amount of access your child gets each day.