Emma: I think children up to 10 should have a mobile phone. It can be very useful for them and for their parents.

Tom: I don’t agree with you. I think children under 10 are too young to have a mobile phone, especially a smartphone.

Emma: Why do you think they are too young?

Tom: Young children can spend too much time on their phones. They may play games, watch videos and forget to do other things.

Emma: That can happen, but parents can make rules. They can say when the child can use the phone and for how long.

Tom: Yes, but children do not always follow rules. They may ask for more time or use the phone when their parents are not looking.

Emma: That is true, but parents can check the phone and control the time. They can also stop some games and websites.

Tom: I still think children should not have a smartphone at such a young age. They should spend more time playing outside and talking to other children.

Emma: I agree that children should play outside. But having a phone does not mean that they have to use it all day. A child can play outside and use the phone for a short time.

Tom: There is another good reason not to give young children a phone. They can see things on the internet that are not good for them.

Emma: Yes, that is a real problem. But parents can choose what the child can see. They can also teach the child not to open strange websites.

Tom: But can a seven-year-old really understand all these rules?

Emma: Maybe not every seven-year-old. That is why parents should decide when their child is ready. Some children may be ready at eight, while others may need to wait longer.

Tom: I think age is very important. A six-year-old should not have a smartphone. The child may not understand how dangerous the internet can be.

Emma: I agree about very young children. But what about a nine- or ten-year-old who goes to school alone?

Tom: That is different. If a child goes home alone, a simple mobile phone can be useful.

Emma: Exactly. The child can call the parents if there is a problem.

Tom: For example, the child may miss the bus or arrive at the wrong bus stop.

Emma: Or the child may feel ill and need help. A phone can be very helpful in an emergency.

Tom: I agree with that. But I would give the child a simple phone, not an expensive smartphone.

Emma: Why?

Tom: A simple phone is mainly for calls and messages. The child does not have so many games and other things to use.

Emma: That makes sense. But smartphones can also help children with school work. They can look up a word or use a learning app.

Tom: Yes, but they can also stop doing their homework because they want to play games.

Emma: Then parents should make a rule: homework first, games later.

Tom: That sounds good, but I also think there should be no phone at the dinner table.

Emma: I agree. The family should talk to each other during meals.

Tom: And children should not take their phones to bed. They may stay awake and watch videos.

Emma: Yes. They need enough sleep. Maybe parents should keep the phone in their own room at night.

Tom: I think that is a very good rule.

Emma: What about school? Should children take their phones to school?

Tom: Maybe they can take them to school, but they should keep them in their school bag and not use them during lessons.

Emma: I agree. A phone can be useful on the way to and from school, but children do not need it during every lesson.

Tom: There is also the problem of strangers online. A child may get a message from someone they do not know.

Emma: That can be dangerous. Children should never give a stranger their name, address or other private information.

Tom: And they should tell their parents if someone sends them a strange message.

Emma: Yes. Parents should talk to their children about these problems before they get a phone.

Tom: So, perhaps we do not completely disagree.

Emma: I think we agree that a phone can be useful, but children need clear rules.

Tom: Yes. I would not give a smartphone to a six-year-old. But an older child may need a simple phone for safety.

Emma: And if a child gets a smartphone, the parents should decide how long the child can use it.

Tom: They should also check that the child is not watching bad videos or talking to strangers.

Emma: So the real question is not only, “How old is the child?”

Tom: Right. We should also ask, “Is the child ready to use a phone?”

Emma: I agree. Parents know their children best and should make the final decision.

Tom: Yes, but they should also listen to the child and explain the rules clearly.

Emma: Then we agree on one thing: a mobile phone can be useful for a child, but it should not become the most important thing in the child’s life.

Tom: Exactly. Children still need friends, school, family, play and time outside.

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Emma’s ideas about children and mobile phones

Emma thinks that children up to 10 can have a mobile phone. She says that a phone can be helpful. Children can call their parents when they are not at home. For example, they can call if they miss the bus, feel sick or have a problem.

Emma knows that phones can also cause problems. Children can play games for too long. They can also watch too many videos. Emma says that parents can make rules. They can say when children can use the phone and how long they can use it.

Emma also says that parents can check the phone. They can stop children from using some games and websites. They can also teach children not to talk to people they do not know on the internet.

Emma thinks that children should still play outside. They should also spend time with their family and friends. A phone should not take all their free time.

Emma thinks that very young children should not have a smartphone. A six-year-old may be too young. But an older child, for example a nine- or ten-year-old, may need a phone when they go home alone.

Emma thinks that a simple phone can be a good choice for a young child. The child can use it to call or send messages. An older child can perhaps have a smartphone, but there should be clear rules.

Emma thinks children should not use phones at the dinner table, during lessons or at night. They should do their homework first and play games later.

In the end, Emma thinks a phone can be useful for children. But parents should make rules and help children use the phone safely.

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Cheat sheet: use it, give a speech, record it, listen to your speech

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Tom’s ideas about children and mobile phones

Tom thinks that children under 10 are too young to have a mobile phone, especially a smartphone. He says that young children can spend too much time on their phones. They may play games and watch videos instead of doing other things.

Tom thinks that children should spend more time outside. They should play with other children and talk to their family and friends. He does not think that a smartphone is necessary for a young child.

Tom is also worried about the internet. Children can see bad things on websites and videos. They can also get messages from people they do not know. Tom thinks that young children may not understand these dangers.

Tom says that a simple mobile phone is better than a smartphone. A simple phone can be used for calls and messages. It can help a child in an emergency without having many games and other things.

Tom thinks that a phone can be useful for an older child who goes home alone. For example, the child can call the parents after school or if there is a problem.

Tom also thinks that children need clear rules. They should not use their phones during lessons or meals. They should not use their phones in bed at night because they need enough sleep.

In the end, Tom does not think that all children under 10 should have a smartphone. He thinks a simple phone may be useful for some older children, but young children should spend more time playing, learning and being with other people.

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Cheat sheet: use it, give a speech, record it, listen to your speech

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Remember how babies
learn a language:

Babies learn a language by listening.
They use their ears to hear sounds.
Their brain remembers these sounds.
Babies connect sounds with people and things.
They listen to their parents.
Then they copy the sounds they hear. They imitate words.
Slowly, babies learn to speak.

So,
LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN………………

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