Is there One Right Age to Give a Child/Teenager with ADHD a Cell Phone? What does having a Cell Phone Teach them?

A query was posed yesterday by @SueScheff on Twitter as to whether or not there is a right age for a teenager to get a cell phone. I believe that there is no right age. Each child is unique and what may be a reasonable idea for one 13 year old might not be a practical idea for another 13 year old. However, that same idea might be acceptable for an 11 year old. The possible lessons that having a cell phone would teach is arguably a more important issue than determining the right age to give a child a cell phone, especially a teenager with ADHD.



Let us talk about the reasons that parents might get a child or a teenager a cell phone, especially one with ADHD. What kind of skills might a child or a teenager with ADHD learn by having a cell phone? Perhaps having a cell phone would teach responsibility. If having a cell phone teaches responsibility, what exactly would that entail?


Those with ADHD oftentimes forget where they place their possessions. In the case of a cell phone, this is a paramount concern, because in addition to a cell phone being such a private possession, which includes any pictures that are taken as well as copies of text messages, it is vital to communicating with a child’s parents. Therefore, children and/or teenagers with ADHD must be taught specific measures that will ensure that they know where their cell phone is at all times. (Look for suggestions in tomorrow’s blog concerning helping teenagers with ADHD to remember where to put their cell phones.)


In addition to teaching responsibility, having a cell phone might help a child to understand the specifics of how much certain things cost, i.e., the monthly cell phone costs, including the amount of money that is charged for operating the phone as well as text messaging. The value of money is a life-long lesson that can be practically taught upon getting a child a cell phone.


Let’s talk: What is your opinion as to whether or not there is a right age for a child or a teenager with ADHD to have a cell phone, and more importantly, why?