A fake gun threat by a third grader has reignited discussion on the appropriate age for a child to have a cell phone.
TOLEDO, Ohio — A fake gun threat called in by a Holloway Elementary third grader sent the school into lockdown, raising fresh questions about how young is too young for a cell phone.
Police said no criminal charges will be filed. The district will handle discipline internally. Superintendent Matt Geha said the student body shouldn’t be defined by one incident.
“I’ve got 3500 great kids in the district, and every so often those great kids make bad choices,” Geha said.
At Wildwood Metropark, parents offered sharply different views. Janice Stevenson, whose daughter is about to turn 8, said safety tipped the decision for her family.
“I wanted her to have it for safety and for us to be able to know where she is and to be able to contact the proper people if need be,” Stevenson said.
Across the playground, Derrick Canales, the father of a 2-year-old, said he and his wife plan to wait until their son is older and more independent.
“Cell phone will probably be later when he is doing any kind of independent sports,” Canales said. “But right now, we want to keep him away from electronics and just let his imagination grow.”
Clinical counselor Erin Wiley of the Willow Center said the choice is “super tricky” in a culture that expects constant contact.
“Kids’ brains are not even near developed enough to handle the responsibility that comes with that amount of technology,” Wiley said, adding that “probably eighth grade” is a reasonable benchmark for most families.
If parents introduce phones earlier, she recommends strict settings: “You can pre-program three numbers, and they can’t call anyone else, and there’s no technology to let them get on the internet.”
Wiley also urged parents to teach children when and how to call 911 before the device ever changes hands.
