I feel elementary age is too young and unnecessary for cell phones. When my older kids were in elementary the school was excited to use technology and encouraged bringing devices. Now with my youngest the school has pulled back. They are provided with access to laptops or tablets at school but not asked to bring them. I'm glad they are finding a balance between integrating technology and traditional teaching methods.
Away for the day policies are best! Decreases social pressure to get a phone. My 4th grader struggles (it makes her really sad) being "the only one" without a phone. She is also saddened when teachers allow "bring your device" day for a behavioral/academic reward because we do not allow devices. She feels isolated and different from everyone. I hate it too.
I don't feel that kids in elementary school really need phones. They aren't often left alone and are mostly going to be with a parent or another trusted adult so they don't need phones until they start staying after school and need to call for rides when another phone (school phone) might not be available for them to use.
I understand there are many families where because of the structure and work schedules they feel the need to have their child have a phone. However I do feel it is inappropriate and irresponsible to not have any smart phone that a minor child has to not be locked down from the internet. It’s frustrating that non smart phones aren’t much of an option anymore. Also that parents feel the need to be able to track their children which is only available on a smart device.
- As a volunteer at after-school events, devices are the #1 distraction. In 5th grade the boys especially. At my 5th grade son’s birthday party, the majority brought phones and some wouldn’t look up from them. At after-school events some even play 2 devices at one time. - My 5th grade son doesn’t want a phone, but is increasingly dismayed and sad because he feels different. He has me drive him to/from school now because all his friends watch YouTube on the bus ride and he wants to talk with them but can’t.
I feel that elementary school children don’t need a cell phone just yet. My fifth grade daughter has a gizmo. We use it to keep in touch with each other if she walks home off the bus by herself or if she had to cross the neighborhood to go to a friend’s house. A gizmo is a great way to be able to communicate with your younger child without exposing them to all the other facets of a cell phone.
I am an elementary school teacher and parent. I feel strongly that children do not need cell phones in elementary school. Especially, during the day. If they have one for after school contact with parents for safety reasons, then OK but giving them that much access at such a young age is crazy! Begin small and teach with incredible diligence.
I feel kids are getting smart phones much too early. When they enter middle school, perhaps a phone with 9-1-1 calling and texting capabilities should be all they need.
I feel that students are definitely addicted to their phones and show an irrational amount of emotion and attention to them.
The cell phone we gave her is one that I no longer use. She cannot use it as a phone and does not take it out of the house (it doesn't have cell service, so she can only use it in WiFi). It's more a device for killing down time than a portal to social media and the outside world. But I feel it's a slippery slope, especially as her peers start to get phones and she has more people to interact with.
My son, a 5th grader, is constantly be pressured by his friends to 'get a cell phone'. I know he would be much worse off if he had a cell phone (he is not responsible enough to regulate his use & I can guarantee it would cause social problems and insecurities) but it is hard to watch him feel like the outcast. We won't fall into the pressure to get him a phone, but I wish there were more families that would do what we are doing.
I feel they should be left in backpacks or checked in with the teacher during school hours.
I am a kindergarten teacher. Cell phones are not encouraged and must stay in backpacks at our school. Some parents feel they need the phone there “in case of emergency”.
In my son’s class, he is one of only two kids who do not have a cell phone, so he wants one. I do not understand why 10-yr-old kids need phones and have few or no restrictions on screen use. I feel alone in this battle.
I feel a cellphone is too distracting. I also gives access to more information than what a kid can or should be asked to handle.
aside from the situation of divorced parents I feel its too young to have a cell phone.
I don’t feel it is necessary. The school office has phones as well as each individual classroom.
I don't have a comment for everyone, but we don't feel our 10 year old needs a cell phone... They definitely don't need a smart phone. I consider it to be different but he does have a wrist watch phone that can only send and receive calls to his parents.
Young children don’t need to grow up using screens to become proficient with them. Not having access to them is not going to be detrimental to them in any way. All of us need to learn to use and moderate the technology at our disposal. And I feel many of us as adults realize this from our own experiences with it. Introducing something that feeds the brain entertainment for zero work while they are young can have staggering consequences. Of them the inability to be creative to satisfy boredom and strengthen self control. This translates into adulthood. How can a child raised in this setting “grow to the age of mature accountability and prepare to affect the future and course of the world?” We are of the hypothesis that waiting to introduce devices of any kind till the child is well into the complicated process of the developing of the thinking brain and the forming of healthy coping pathways only benefits them. This introduction is much like learning to drive the family car.
I believe kids should not be allowed cell phones at elementary school. They can use the school provided computers/iPads for educational purposes. If, they have to call home use the front office desk phone. Teach children CBT (thoughts, feelings, behaviour) and how to advocate for themselves.
It doesn't seem overwhelming in the school, but they are definitely starting to use their phones outside of school more and I know that my child sometimes feels (or her friends feel) that they can't communicate outside of school. That's not really true - they have a computer that they can use for school projects and we have a landline, but it's the sense that they cannot text each other, and so they can't communicate.... Its frustrating because we've told our daughter that she can have a phone when we need her to, but I am conscious of her not feeling connected to her peers when they are all getting phones.
I don’t feel elementary school kids need their own cell phones or chromebook/laptop. Kids could have access to devices in school if they need them for a particular lesson, but they should not have one issued to them that they bring home. More trouble than they’re worth. My son has an iPod /itouch but I do not let him bring to school, even though he’s begging me to. Trying to delay it as long as possible.
I don't feel it's necessary and therefore, our son will not have a cell phone for at least a year, if not several.
It isn’t necessary and shouldn’t be allowed. The peer pressure is difficult. My daughter is naturally drawn to the kids that have phones and feels left out that she doesn’t have one.
It’s difficult to wait until gr. 8 when so many other kids have the cell. My daughter feels isolated
My opinion is under middle school, theres no reason a kid should have a cell phone. Its typically not needed and just distracts other elementary aged kids from school. Its usually brought to school just to make that kid look/feel “cool”
My husband and I have been talking about finding a device that would allow our son to text or connect with us. We feel he’s old enough and responsible enough to get dropped off at a local field to meet friends, but would feel safer knowing he could tech us if needed. A friend having a phone can be helpful.
My daughter in grade 7 also does not have one. I feel all schools should have mandatory wifi scramblers so that children with data plans cannot look up whatever they want. I also feel cell phones should not be allowed in classrooms at any age.
My feeling is that cell phones should not be allowed at all in elementary schools
Oldest child is in middle school. By 5th grade kids would get out of class and pull out their phones to play fortnight, show a friend a video or selfie or text (a parent to arrange a pick up?). Surprised at how many older elementary kids had phones. Group texts caused a lot of hurt and the teacher had to address it even though the hurt feelings happened outside of school because it was affecting what was happening inside the classroom. Sigh. Thankful that my child and closest friends didn't have phones.
I feel that cell phone use in elementary school (and middle school for that matter) is inappropriate and quite frankly very, very sad. No child that age needs one. They are detrimental on so many levels. Not just mentally & emotionally, but the actual physical ramifications of the EMF's that are emitted from the phones. I'm worried about the future of our youth and their ability to cope in the real world.
I do not feel children in elementary schools need a phone and if they do have one they should not be allowed to use it during school hours.
They should not be allowed in schools I feel my right to keep my child in a safe environment violated.
We purchased an iTouch for our daughter, but feel like we could have waited another year. There’s no educational reason for her to have it in 4th grade/10 years old....
On one hand, I feel elementary school children do not need cell phones and should not have them. On the other hand, in today's day and age, it's difficult to deprive that a child from having direct communication with their parent(s). But I personally still stand my ground with my child that he does not need a cell phone until they go into middle School (My oldest child did not get a cell phone until 7th grade & had very strict restrictions). This is just my opinion & what I do.