According to the Nielson company, 75 billion text messages are sent each month.  Teens 13 to 17 years of age are the biggest texters sending and receiving an average 2,272 text per month.  This averages 70-80 text messages per day. The New York Times says the growing use of texting among teenagers is beginning to take its toll and some physicians and psychologist are beginning to share their concerns. “All the texting kids do creates anxiety, keeps them from getting enough sleep, and causes repetitive stress injuries.”

Dangers of Too Much Texting

• Is you child getting enough sleep at night if he or she is sending and receiving text while they are suppose to be sleeping?
• Appropriate communication lessons and applications are not being practiced.  Educators, psychiatrist and mental health professionals are concerns about children not practicing proper face-to-face communication techniques that are necessary in developing appropriate social and language skills.
• Does texting cause teen car accidents?  The answer is, yes!  Over 60 percent of teens in the U.S. admit to risky driving, and nearly half of those that admit to risky driving also admit to text messaging while they are driving.  In 2002, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis calculated that 2,600 people die each year as a result of using cell phones while driving. They estimated that another 330,000 are injured.
• Can too much texting cause damage to the hands?  The medical field is beginning to share their concerns of “repetitive strain injuries” on the hands due to too much texting. 
• Can too much texting cause your child to fail classes, be late to work and not participate in regular family activities?  This is a concern shared by many educators, youth leaders, business leaders and parents.

What Can Parents Do To Stop Too Much Texting?So, what can parents do to keep “on top” and aware of all the texting that their child may be doing?  Here are some helpful steps to take:

1. Talk with your child and share your concerns regarding cell phone and text messaging use.  If your child is a teen, discuss the dangers of cell phones; specifically, sexting.  If necessary, write up an agreement or contract specifically spelling out cell phone and texting use per month.  This idea may be most appropriate if your child’s grades are falling due to texting or cell phone use.
2. Check your cell phone bill each month.  The bill should provide you with a breakdown of the number of texts messages send and received and the times when the text messages occur. 
3. Set your child up on a limited cell phone plan.  Contact your cell phone company or go online to see what text plan is most appropriate for your child.
4. Many parents do not allow a computer or television in their child’s bedroom.  How about establishing the same rule or practice to be followed with cell phones?

The “Parent Counselor” can provide you with additional helpful suggestions if your child has other cell phone or texting concerns that are adversely affecting his or her life.