给孩子配手机 Giving Children Cell Phones

　　Giving Children Cell Phones

　　More and more children are showing up at schooleach September with cell phones. Many parents buytheir children a cell phone because it is a nice safetymeasure. It gives those working parents a littlesense of control and security to know when theirchildren are off campus and on their way home.

　　But having a cell phone might be a problem. Parents may find themselves facing afrightening bill at the end of the month. The reason: chatting on the phone and sending textmessages can soon become the favorite pastime of preteens and teenagers. Worse still, cellphones in schools can lead to classroom distractions, text-message cheating andinappropriate photographs.

　　Knowing their children can always be reached is reassuring for parents. But before buyingtheir child a cell phone, I think parents should decide if the child is really capable of managinghis or her own phone. Besides, parental control must be exercised in the use of the phone. Forexample, they should set limits on how long the child is allowed to stay on the phone.