Pros & Cons of Teens Having Cell Phones

Security

• When your teen is out with friends or has begun driving, a cell phone is a way to call home in times of trouble. A cell phone on your teen at all times will give him the ability to call in case of a flat tire or an accident.

Wasted Time

• Teens love to chat. They especially love to chat when they are bored or need to be doing something they do not want to do such as homework. Having a cell phone can tempt your teen to spend all day texting or talking instead of spending time in a more worthwhile manner.

Convenience

• Giving your teen a phone enables him to call whenever practice or other activities are running late, which can be convenient for you if you are the one to pick him up. It also gives him a way to call home if he has forgotten something, or wants or needs to ask permission for something.

Wasted Money

• Giving a teen a phone can make teaching the value of a dollar even harder. Your teen most likely is not paying for the phone and does not know how much it costs. The excitement of having a phone will usually overcome the ability to budget minutes and messages on the phone.

Responsibility

• Giving your child his own phone can teach him a new form of responsibility. You can give the phone as a reward for good behavior and take it away if rules are broken. You could also teach money management by cutting portions of his allowance every time he goes over minutes or messages.