A growing trend in this country is the use of mobile phones by children under 18. In fact, 50 percent of children inthe U.S. today have their own cell phones.
This number is astonishing and to no surprise is on the rise. As it is, we spend too little time really involved inwhat our children do.
Who they talk to, who they text message and who they send digital photos to becomes a mystery when they are allowedto have their own mobile phones.
Of course, every youngster is different and some are very responsible when it comes to the use of their phones. Butto keep our children safe we must remember to be accountable and teach our children to be accountable for their actions.
Many a teen has run their parents cell phone bill up so high that they have had to confiscate the phone. But thekey is to stop the problem before it happens. The key is to set limits, and to stay involved.
Know with whom your children are talking to. Set firm rules about the times they are allowed to use their phones. Knowwhom they are sending pictures to and what sort of pictures they are sending.
The same with text messages. One more thing we should consider is whether we want our kids using their phones while operating a vehicle. 6000 kids die annually in car accidents and with 48 percent of teens reportedly talking on the phone while driving, the mixture can be deadly. The key to keeping our kids safe is to be informed.