Moms Talk: Cell Phones for Kids

Authorities recently attributed the arrest of a Gloucester County man accused of exposing his genitals to two sets of girls to one victim's quick decision to snap a picture of the suspect's car with her cell phone camera.

Since cell phones became increasingly popular in the late '90s, parents have been debating the pros and cons of giving them to their children.

On the one hand, the phones can be used to help track the whereabouts of your children. It usually goes something like this: "Susie, if I buy you this phone, you will answer it any time I call to check up on you."

On the other hand, do we really need to encourage pre-teens and teens to talk on the phone more than they did back in the time when the landline was the only option? Nowadays, you also need to factor in the fact they'll probably send hundreds of text messages per day, including in the classroom if they can get away with it.

Not to mention cell phones are an added expense.

So, Patch asks you: When is the right age to give a child a cell phone? What limits should be placed on the child's cell-phone usage once you give in and buy them one? Do you even include a texting option?

Editor's Note: Moms Talk is a feature on GloucesterTownship.Patch.com that aims to reach out to and bring together moms and families.

GloucesterTownship.Patch.com invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Gloucester Township.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions, utilizing the comment box below.

Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic.

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today—and every Wednesday!—at 1 p.m. Can't make it for the 1-2 p.m. chat? Then drop a line for our Moms Council and readers to consider.