At What Age Should a Child Have a Cell Phone?

The number of youngsters in the U.S. with cell phones has almost doubled since 2005, according to a year-old study by the market research group Mediamark Research and Intelligence. 

Twenty percent of children between six and 11 years old owned a personal cell phone at the time the study was released early last year.

The number of 10 to 11-year-old children with their own cell phones rose by 80.5 percent between 2005 and 2009.

Most of the youth surveyed use their phones mainly for calling their parents and friends, emergency purposes, and text messaging, they said.

asked parents here in the Beach Cities last week at what age they think is appropriate to give a child a cell phone?

Patch columnist Tori MacLennan responded that her oldest child, who is in elementary school, asked for a cell phone a couple of weeks ago.

"My answer may shock some, but it was a no. She proceeded to tell me about friends in her class who have cell phones," MacLennan wrote in response to the question. "I always had my eye on middle school with hopes of pushing it off until high school. As she gets older I’m sure my ideas will change, as they tend to do regularly. They have to right? Because at this point she can’t date until she turns 30," MacLennan joked.

"Perhaps even middle school is too early, if there isn't a real need," responded Patch reader Jack Drake. "If you need your child to be able to reach you, then a cell phone might be the right solution. If they are in circumstances that are potentially dangerous, then OK. Even receiving calls that would otherwise tie your phone up might justify it. Kids are naturally envious of what others have, so they think they, also, 'need' one. Balderdash! There's a difference between a 'want' and a 'need.'"