I said I wouldn't get my son a cellphone. I changed my mind when he turned 11, and I'm glad I did.

The author got her 11-year-old son a cellphone.

Courtesy of Alexandra Frost

• Over the course of my career, I've learned a lot about the dangerous effects of cellphones on kids.
• So, I swore I'd never get my kid one, but when he was 11, I finally gave in.
• So far, it's been going well, and he seems to be handling it responsibly.

As a parenting and health writer, I've spent way too much time reporting on the extensive mental health concerns around phone use. Therefore...