Is that Your Backpack Ringing? Companies Catering to Children as Young as Age 6 by sarah macdonald courtesy of wherifone It's not a surprise that some dolls now come with doll-sized cell phones. But don't be surprised if some companies, including Disney, are peddling cell phones, to the doll's mommy - your child. Phone and toy companies are flooding the market with cell phones geared to children as young as age 6. And, kids (and their parents) are buying. Forty-four percent of 10-18 year olds in the United States had a cell phone, according to a 2005 survey by GfK Technology. Of 12-14 year olds, 40 percent said they had a cell phone in December 2004, up 13 percent from February 2002. A 2005 Amplitude Research Survey of 1,100 parents nationwide, found 23% of them allowed their elementary school child to have a phone and 53% allowed a middle school child to have a phone. Of the 1,100 surveyed parents, 55% agreed with the statement that a "cell phone is a vital device for a child when not in an adult's presence." Those numbers include Kyle and Kayla Sharpe of Dedham, who have both had cell phones for about two years, said mom Maria. She bought Kyle a cell phone when he was 11 because he was starting middle school and she was working. Kayla, 8 at the time, got a phone because the company was offering a two-for-one deal. "It was a way for me to touch base," said Maria, who now says Kyle has more numbers in his cell phone's address book than she does. "Now, as they get older, it's a way to track [Kyle] down." As more and more families, like the Sharpes, include two working parents and very busy children, cell phones become a way to stay connected. "Parents want to stay in touch with their kids," said John Cunningham from Wherify, which will roll out the familyfriendly Wherifone this month. "They want to know they are where they're supposed to be, for peace of mind." That's why one of Wherifone's key features is a GPS locator service. Parents can log on to a Web site or call from any phone and find out where their child, or at least their child's phone, is within a minute. But these days, that's just one of a kid's many choices. Educational toy maker LeapFrog partnered with Enfora to offer TicTalk, a phone that makes and receives calls only to parent-approved phone numbers. Parents can also set the times of the day the phone can be used, and kids can earn extra airtime minutes by playing arcade-style LeapFrog games on their phones. Firefly's phone includes "Mom" and "Dad" speed-dial keys and a 911-button for emergency calls. It's aimed directly at "tweens" aged 8-12 and is more durable than most adult cell phones. The Firefly is also specifically shaped to fit smaller hands. For those parents wary of a full-fledged phone, Hasbro is selling Chat Now, a pair of handsets that look like cell phones but use walkie-talkie technology. There are no airtime charges, but they only work within a two-mile radius. It was the announcement that Disney, who partnered with Sprint to offer Disney Mobile service, that has sparked the loudest outcry. Consumer and child advocacy groups, including the Alliance for Childhood, Commercial Alert, and the National Consumers League, sounded a warning about the harm of targeting children for cell phones. In July 2005, the groups sent a letter to members of Congress warning of the potential hazards of children going wireless, including dangers like child predators or telemarketing. Other cell phone opponents point to the uncertainty over the long-term health effects of having a cell phone constantly pressed to your ear or the added dangers that face teen drivers when they're chatting on the road. Parents also cite the hidden costs of cell phones as one of their biggest concerns; bills can grow exponentially if a child figures out how to download ring tones or games. Mom Sue Tapases worries about all of those things, but has come to an agreement with her three daughters: they can get cell phones the Christmas before their 16th birthday so that they'll have them in case of emergency, as they learn to drive. "I'm trying to see it as a bit of a safety net," said Sue, of Westfield, whose 18and 16-year old daughters both have phones. "They use it as a social outlet. They're constantly plugged in." But not youngest daughter, Evonne. At just 11 years old, she'll has a long wait ahead of her, especially as more and more of her friends get phones. Sue estimates that by age 13 or so that balance tips more kids will have phones than won't. Still, she stands firm, bolstered by stories about children losing or misusing phones. "They're just not responsible enough," Sue argued. Phone companies are working hard to address parents' concerns by adding safety features like GPS tracking and parentcontrolled call lists. But in the end, it's up to parents to watch how a phone is being used. Parents should check lists of numbers dialed and calls received, to have a handle on who is in touch with their children. And check bills carefully, for the sometimes hidden costs of overage (using more airtime minutes than a plan allows), text message or Internet access. Phone Use Restricted During School Hours If you do cave to the begging and pleading, be aware that many schools now have policies banning cell phones in class, a move the Massachusetts Department of Education encourages, said department spokeswoman Heidi Perlman. Phones must be turned off and out of sight the entire school day in Scituate Public Schools and at Wellesley High, for example. The Boston Public School administration moved from a school-byschool system to a district-wide policy in 2005, citing the increased popularity of phones in all schools. Now students can use their phones only before school hours or after school, with the permission of a coach or instructor supervising an activity. Westborough High's policy on cell phones which must be kept off and in bags throughout the school day has been around for some time, said Principal John Pierce. "We recognized pretty clearly that they were going to be another form of disruption," he said. "We only have our kids six hours a day. The rest of the time they are enveloped in media, but we want their full attention...I think the policy is pretty plain and simple." Still, Westborough, like many other schools, has not banned phones outright. "We realize that they have become very pivotal to communication, before and after school," Pierce said. Administrators at Framingham High just recently changed the school handbook to include cell phones in the school's search and seizure policy. The change means school officials can seize a student's phone as part of a search for drugs or stolen property at school, and they can look through the phone to see if there is information pertinent to a crime in it. Administrators likened searching a cell phone to looking through a student's notebooks for clues. Consequences for breaking the phone rules range from warnings to semesterlong phone confiscations. The policies are usually written explicitly as part of a district or school handbook. The Department of Education also has a policy banning cell phones from the room when MCAS testing is going on. The policy came about when cell phones were equipped with instant messaging and camera capabilities, said Perlman. The department did not want children taking photos of the test, which are secure documents. "And we don't want kids to be disturbed while they're taking the tests, like by getting a phone call," Perlman said. Despite the drawbacks, many parents find cell phones to be a way to keep in contact with busy kids, and a potential lifeline should an emergency arise. Even Sue Tapases sees one bright spot with her teens' addiction to chatting: it's a wonderful tool to discipline. "We can say, 'Be home by curfew or we'll take your cell phone away' and boy, does that work," she said. Maria Sharpe agreed. "They have to answer when I call or it's taken away. You're either accessible to me or you're not going to have a cell phone and you won't go out." Sarah MacDonald is a Massachusetts-based freelance writer.