Caleb wants a cell phone

Caleb's turning 8 this year and probably like most kids his age, he wants his own cell phone. Honestly, I don't feel comfortable with giving a child his age a phone of their own. For one, I don't think they are responsible enough to take care of it and I'm not sure he'd remember the limits we set for him.

Regardless, it is something to think about. He walks home after school alone which always worries me even though I did the same when I was in just Kindergarten. And he likes to go to the occasional friend's house. It would be a way for me to contact him, or him to contact me if he needed something.

Consumer Reports has conflicting reports on the health risk of children having cell phones at younger and younger ages. And the companies that gear phones towards younger children, while offering security features and benefits, are also quite expensive. Having seen how my children treat personal electronics -- like their Nintendo DS game systems -- I'm highly hesitant to put a cell phone in their hands for personal use.

Another problem is that by allowing them to carry them to and from school to use if they need to contact me or their dad, it leaves the risk of having the phone stolen. And while any phone could be stolen, I can see Caleb "loaning" his out to be nice, or letting a friend use it, or just talking it about it so much that one of the not-so-nice types might just take it out of his backpack.

Still, it's something that George and I have discussed and haven't quite come to a firm age when we feel we'll go ahead and let the kids have cell phones. In all likelihood, they'll be at least 12 or 13. But, I guess we'll see. It all depends on what the circumstances dictate as they get older and start wanting to do more outside activities