November 2014
SanTan
FAMILY FUN “An award-winning publication” A publication of the
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Is Your Child Ready for a Cellphone?
SanTan Sun News
What’s inside
Pages 2-4 SanTan Family Fun Calendar
Page 10 ABK youth wins Overall Grand Champion
Page 12 Sponsored by City of Chandler Recreation Division
Special High School Football Section SPONSORED BY: SCORPION CROSSFIT
Pages 5-9 Gridiron Update
By Tracy House
docking station in one place so that all the phones can be monitored. “I think Cellphones, like driving and voting, the docking station and seeing all the have become a rite of passage, but at phones is a good thing parents can do.” what age is it appropriate to give a child Every parent is going to one? For parents thinking have a different reason for about getting their childeciding when their child dren their first phone, needs a cellphone. there’s more to consider “I think of it as a rite than the argument, of passage for children,” “Everyone else has one.” Fejt says. “Every kid develTracey Fejt, a mother of ops differently, so some kids four children ages 12 to are extremely mature and 16, says parents have a lot ready to handle it and other to consider when it comes kids are not.” to cellphones and kids. There is no tried and true She waited until her appropriate age for giving a children were in junior child a cellphone. Fejt says high before getting Tracey Fejt Submitted photo to consider if the child is them phones. ready for the responsibilities “Being a parent, I did that come with a cellphone. set some guidelines for my kids,” says “Once your children do get older, parFejt, a registered nurse, injury prevention ents need to remember you have to have coordinator/outreach manager at Cardon a phone talk,” she says. “Sexting is huge Children’s Medical Center. with kids and parents don’t necessarily Among the guidelines are limiting the think about talking about it, but then number of people allowed to contact, those pictures get out and they get passed and the number of texts. around. Clearly, having that talk with “Parents should be aware if they want them too, has to do with responsibility.” to give those younger elementary stuShe stresses telling children not to dents a phone...it should be for an give out their numbers randomly emergency.” or to get others without knowing the Fejt also sets time limits on phone person first. use. She finds it important to discuss “If they are having issues, make sure with her children when phones are they can come back and talk to you appropriate and when they’re not approabout those issues,” she says, referring priate. to bullying and harassment. Children will emulate adult behavior. There are other health issues for Fejt says it’s important for parents to parents contemplating a cellphone for a show restraint with their cellphones, particularly while driving. “Parents should be aware that kids are watching those habits,” she says. “So we wonder why teens are texting and driving, well they’ve seen their parents do it all these years. So if it’s alright for their parents, it’s alright for them.” Parents also need to consider shutting off the phone at night. “How many kids go to bed with their phone on and they’re up all night?” she says. She suggested having a
child. Fejt mentioned radiation, though it has not been proven to affect health, as another consideration in younger children with cells. In addition, holding up a cellphone with a shoulder, as well as continual texting can result in wrist, elbow, shoulder, thumb and finger pain. Besides the safety and health issues, parents should be aware of plan charges and usage of the cellphones and monitor how they are being used. Sharing the cellphone plan can result in overages that teens and kids are not aware of. “It’s a privilege to have that phone,” Fejt says. “If they do something, that privilege does get taken away.” Cardon Children’s Medical Center is part of the Banner Health system. For more information visit www.bannerhealth.com. Tracy House is the news editor of the SanTan Sun News. She can be reached at tracy@santansun.com.
Additional Resources Websites • “The First Cell Phone: Rules for Responsibility” www.ahaparenting.com/agesstages/tweens/Cell-Phone-Rules-SafeResponsible-Kids • “Is Your Child Ready for a Cellphone” www.webmd.com/children/features/ children-and-cell-phones
Books • “Cell Phone Safety (Tech Safety Smarts),” by Kathy Allen • “The Parent’s Guide to Texting, Facebook and Social Media: Understanding the Benefits and Dangers of Parenting in a Digital World,” by Shawn Marie Edgington