When should your child have their own cell phone?

​I speak to parents about digital citizenship and their children's access to, and use of, devices such as cell phones, tablets and computers. Whether speaking to parents of elementary or high school students, I am always asked a variation of the following question – At what age should I give my child their own cell phone?
 
There is no right age or magic number answer to that question! Instead I ask parents to answer the following questions:

1. Why should your child have their own cell phone? Be very honest and specific with this answer!
2. Does your child really NEED, rather than really WANT, a cell phone?
3. Why does your child say he or she NEEDS a cell phone?
4. Are the answers to questions #1 and #3 the same, very similar or different?
5. Does your child understand the difference between what can be done with a cell phone versus what should be done with a cell phone? I am not talking about losing it but rather I am referring to their responsible and ethical behavior. i.e. joking versus cyber-bullying; texting versus sending intimate pictures; privacy versus over sharing of everything.
6. If they need the cell phone because they take public transportation to and from their elementary school and you want them to be able to contact you in case of a problem – they need a cell phone. They do not need a data plan or access to the Internet.
7. If they need the cell phone for a BYOD (bring your own device) school, how much data and what services do they really need on the phone? Ask the school for this information.
8. Have you had the very important conversations with your child about the ethical and responsible behavior with and on the cell phone that you expect from them? E.g. If they cannot say or do it in face to face communication, they cannot say or do it on the cell phone.
9. What are your parenting rules for the use of the cell phone in your home? Can they have it with them at the dinner table, in the bathroom, in their bedroom? 24/7 access or device free time periods?
10. What about your use of your cell phone? Is your cell phone with you at the dinner table, in the bathroom, in your bedroom? What ethical and responsible use of the cell phone are you modeling for your children?
11. Will you know their password(s)?

 
Now look at your answers – is your child ready to have a cell phone? You decide. You are the parent. The decision is yours not your child’s.
 
If you now decide that your child is ready to have a cell phone, add the following to their Contacts:
 Name = ICE (in case of emergency). Contact information leads to you.
 
 Maureen Baron is at the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) as an Information and Communications Technologies Education Consultant. She is a member of DKG Quebec, Beta Chapter, and serves as a technology consultant.