In NYC – in many yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs – once children are in 7th grade – they must take public transportation to go to and from school. My children have been mugged. When my son was mugged he was on the phone with me and the perpetrators got scared when he screamed ‘Mommy come’ and ran off.
I don’t know how many of you have been on the busses and trains but most child will feel much more secure if they have that phone. As with all issues – we much teach our children how to behave responsibly. If we let our children know that we are proud of them and trust them – they will work to retain that pride and trust that we have in them. I have seen many homes where the parents forbid all types of things – and poonk in those homes – the children felt that their parents did not trust them – and rebelled. That being said – everybody knows their own children. If I had a son who was a trouble maker all during his childhood and constantly testing the limits – I would be hesitant to give that child a cell phone.