Now, Special Mobiles For Kids!

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According to a study commissioned Cartoon Network, 7 – 10 year old kids already have a phone. It was also found 17percent more kids owned phones since 2006.

Introduction of phones like Firefly and Teddyfone have increased the possibility in hike in the number of children owning their personal mobiles.

'Previously mum and dad would have said 'no way', but if they make it cute enough and enough like a toy they might say 'oh, all right', says Raechel Johns, a marketing lecturer at the University of Canberra.

The manufacturers are now transporting the regular mobiles into kids designer phones. This is how they are targeting children as a growing market.

Tim Pethick, the head of Gecko, the owner of Firefly phones in Australia, said: 'Parents are going to want to be able to get in touch with their kids and have their kids get in touch with them.'

Many of these new phones allow parents to keep a check on the numbers that can be dialled or even stop text messaging. Some like the Japanese Kyocera Mamorino, come with a GPS tracker.

Controlled use to suit the needs of the family is realistic. This practice may be an useful backup but grown ups still recommended 10 year old kids to be dependent on their parents.

Dr John Irvine, child psychologist and author of A Handbook for Happy Families, believes children don"t need phones.

He said: 'It's a snowball effect - the more kids that have it, the more have to have it. The truth is the world has not got more dangerous, the risks to kids from stranger danger is no greater than it has been for many years. Are parents more protective? Yes.'

And then there is the risk of radio nations.

Dr Vini Khurana, a brain surgeon, feels that exposing youngsters to mobile phones can cause brain tumours and also be a cause of introduction to wrong and anti – social activities at a very young age.