Cell phones

LORI - posted on 02/24/2012

My 10 year old keeps asking for one and most of her friends have cell phones. Her brother got his at 16 years and he had to pay his monthly bill. We don't feel she needs her own cell phone at this time. We drive her to and from school, we don't let her go to friends houses that we don't know the parents and the parents have to be home. She has to be able to pay for her monthly bill also, so once she's able to work she will be allowed to get one.

Tammy - posted on 02/21/2012

Totally depends on your lifestyle. My oldest two boys got one when they were 8 and 9 to share because they were usually always together at friends houses. And one phone would do it for them. When my oldest reached 10 and changed schools and started having activities etc after school we got him his own. I wanted to be able to reach him and him me if plans or pick-up times/places changed.



But my best friend has a 12yo that doesn't have any after school activities and goes home right after school. So she doesn't have a cell phone and I agree with that as well.



Like I said in the beginning. It totally depends on your family. Last week my oldest has his phone taken away for an attitude adjustment. I found it harder on me because I would usually call him after work to have him start dinner so that it would be ready when I got home and couldn't.

Sue - posted on 02/19/2012

my girls got cell phones in middle school (6th grade) mostly for my peace of mind so i can contact them when they are not at home. i do put a limit on who and when they can text call. look into a family plan if you have one with your service. i can limit the numbers they can call/ times etc. it's also great punishment for the high schooler to lose it for minor infractions! as for 10 year olds, that your call

Amanda - posted on 02/17/2012

I say it all depends on how responsible ur child is and how busy they r with activities and such. My 10 would absolutely love to have a cell phone but I don't feel she needs one! I take her to all her activities. I do like the idea of allowing a child to have 1 only when they r staying overnight somewhere or will be away from u for a long period of time. And the GPS. But other than that, its just not neccesary! Kids r already growing up way to fast! My daughter loses her glasses, I can't trust she's misplace a cell phone!

Sarah - posted on 11/22/2011

My oldest son Connor has a cell phone and he is 8. I got him a touch screen unlimited web texting and calling. I think 8 is fine..Hope this helps:)

Jacqueline - posted on 11/21/2011

Thank you you have brought up some very valid points.

Liz Gonzalez - posted on 11/19/2011

Sorry, but I am 44 years old, I have a 19 year old that didn't get a phone till she was in High school, and it was limited! NOW the 13 and 10 year olds want one and the same goes for them. Good grades + High School = Cell phone! Not only that, they need to be responsible and well behaved. No drama or games in this household! The way I look at it is, I drop them off at school and they are there under watchful care till I pick them up. They have a phone at school that contacts me if they should need me! High school is different....this is where I knew I could give her a phone. It's worked and my 19 year old is very responsible, she's had her phone stolen once, that is the only time I have had to replace her phone, and it happened in the dorms in college.

Amber - posted on 06/30/2011

My daughter is 6 and has a cell phone. I go through Sprint, but am sure other companies carry the plan, and she has a monitored phone. Basically, I go through, program all the numbers she is allowed to call. Any number that isn't on the phone, she can't call or get calls from. Then I put in a password so it can't be changed unless you enter it. She doesn't have texting, but can send a text to 1 contact (her babysitter, she can only get text messages) and it uses her minutes that she has for talking. I did this only because it was a hassle for her dad or me to get a hold of one another when we wanted to talk to her. That and if she is ever somewhere else, and something happens, she has all her emergency contacts programmed into the phone. In these days you just can't be too careful anymore.



Her phone also has GPS on it so I can track it from any computer, or call the company and have them track it and let me know where she is at. Which is also a huge relief.

Eadaoin - posted on 06/30/2011

i gave my daughter a mobile phone for christmas she can only text and call people as that;s all the functions it has on it . She uses it very rarely and is usually on the mantle piece , was just a phase that she wanted one so got her the basic one possible but u can get the phones just for kids that u can monitor

Leah - posted on 06/27/2011

My daughter is 9 will be 10 in Sept. I dont let her have a cell phone unless she goes somewhere over night. After that I take the phone back until the next time. She always ask can she have it but I am not giving in.