Should a 11-Year-Old Have a Cell Phone?

Dana - posted on 04/09/2010

We got my daughter a cell phone for Christmas a few months before she turned 10. We got her the cell phone for OUR convience. My husband and I were (at the time) teaching at different school districts. She rode the bus to his school each day then when I got there I would call her to come get in the car. She kept it turned off during the school day, only turning it on when she got to her dads school.



It also comes in handy during softball season, at Girl Scouts and gymnastics.... It is not always possible to stay with her at all times, so if something comes up or changes, she can call me and let me know. She also takes it with her to sleepovers and camp... just in case.



Non one else is allowed to use it and she will tell them no. We do allow her to call her friends from camp (or family) on it whenever she likes as long as she obeys our "too early, too late" house rules.



It costs $15/month (thats including taxes) on our family plan. For an additional $5/mon you can add on a parental control where you can go online and set up restricted usage hours and blocked phone number. You can also see who she is calling and texting. We do not use this. That $15/ month also includes unlimited texting and sending pictures (whatever thats called).

Amiee - posted on 04/09/2010

I have an 11 year old son, and we have given him a cell phone. It's great especially when he goes away to sleepovers or if he's playing in the neighborhood also....easy to keep in touch with him faster than without one. These days kids even younger than ours have cell phones. His is nothing elaborate and he is limited to any web use if any at all. He might get a ringtone down load if he did well on his grades. Just my story, but it's more of a personal decision for you and your family. Hope I could help!

Jacqueline - posted on 04/09/2010

Again don't go all super expensive with all the gadgets and applications set up the ground rules and know your personal situation. What you can and can't afford, your child's personality is she responsible? Insure the phone in case of accidental damage, most schools don't allow phones so my daughter put her's in her bookbag and it got crushed by her text books! And what are the individual circumstances that keep you from knowing her whereabouts or her afterschool activities where you are unable to get to her because of a work schedule or other prior committment. I wish you all the best but remember you are the parent and like everything else if you decide to get the phone there is no such thing as privacy check text messages and incoming and outgoing numbers its all about your chld's safety. For the first couple of weeks I didn't even give my daughter her cell phone number I could call her but she couldn't give it out to all her friends and misuse the real need for the phone. And if I feel she is taking advantage I take the phone until she learns her lesson.

Lezlee - posted on 04/09/2010

My niece is 14 and has had a cell phone for 2 yrs. She has lost many of them and has replaced sim cards several times. Once her parents learned and got her the cheap $10 phone she did wonderfully taking care of it. Aside from all the problems I think that it is a situational decision. With the large families we have these days because of divorce and remarriage a cell phone is a good way for a child to contact a dependable adult consistently. That being said, my child will not get a cell phone until about three instances of not knowing where she is after school. I figure once she is old enough to determine her own after school activities, she should be about old enough to take care of a phone. Yes, her first phone will be a prepaid cheap as possible phone.

Mindy - posted on 04/09/2010

My son was 11 when we got him one. For us, it was our "leash". It was more for us than for him. When he reached this age, and was old enough to meet his friends at the park by our house or go to a friend's house, it gave us the ability to reach him anytime we needed to. Honestly, I get annoyed by people to judge us for deciding what was right for our family. I think it's a personal/family decision.



His first phone, he inherited one of my old phones, and I got a new one :) So his was not fancy. We've had a lot of great learning oppurtunities since getting him a phone. We learned how much it cost per text when you don't have unlimited texting :) He paid for his texting for a whle before I learned to text and decided I like it too and then got unlimited texting on our plan. He learned that when he didn't take care of his first phone, he got to use a really old pink one until his contract date was up and he was eligible for a new phone (he really hated that, but boy does he take care of his new phone!). He paid for his new phone ($10 w/ the free phone w/ new contract deal), so he learned how to shop smart. He's learned that when he's disrespectul, doesn't get his homework done, or gets a late night text, he gets to let me hang on to his phone for him for a while. :)

Monica - posted on 04/09/2010

My son is 10 and will become 11 on April 21st. He already has a cell phone. He uses it when he goes out with the baseball team or maybe to a birthday party and he needs to call me or his father to come pick him up. You should trust your children. give them the benefit of doubt.

Kendra - posted on 04/09/2010

I want to get my daughter a cell phone too, she will be 12 this month, but i am still undecided on if this is a good idea or not...right now she uses my phone to text/talk to her friends, so I at least know what is going on.

Jacqueline - posted on 04/09/2010

I say it first depends on the maturity of the child. Secondly, it depends on the child's need for the cell phone not the want of the phone. My daughter is 10 she won't be 11 until next month and sha had her first phone in kindergarten which only allowed numbers I programmed into her phone to call her and she could only call mom, dad, and emergency on the phone it had no actual numbers. But our needs were different she took a bus to and from school and in kindergarten got into a fight with a upper classman and this was while she was attending a Christian School I was concerned for my child's safety. Fast forward several years later she didn't get a phone again until she was 8 and again the need was present for her after-school activities she could keep us informed of her arrivals, departures, etc... she primarily would send a text stating she was on the bus and such, one day she was on restriction and we took the phone well you can imagine my fear and worry, which gave way to panic when I arrived at the baby-sitter and she had not arrived yet. Well the bus driver had an issue on the bus and took the children back to school on on occasion and another time the bus broke down and they had to wait for a back up vehicle to be sent and both times she was without her phone. This is just a way for me to keep up with my child because when she gets out of school I am still at work. These incidents all happened when she was 8. As situations got better there was no need for a phone. She received a phone again at 10 The last incident was when I was home and waiting for my daughter and by the appointed time she was not home and then I called the baby sitter and noone had seen her the bus driver had taken it upon herself to change the route and drop off points and the baby sitter wasn't expecting my daughter, her god-mother who lives around the corner from the babysitter was not home so my child walked 4 1/2 blocks none of the safety options we had discussed were able to be utilized and she was scared to ask for help so for 4 1/2 blocks she walked was followed home by a strange man, some unstable woman yelled across the street asking did my daughter need help and she finally stopped when she was 1 1/2 blocks from our house at a neighbor's house she felt safe to call and explain and her leg had given out from trying to walk so rapidly because it went from light to dark and I was in my vehicle franticly searching and my mother reached me on my cell phone and I then retrieved my child. So the option to have a cell phone really is not for any child to look cool or because their friends have one you may not quite understand the circumstances as to why a child who may be a latch-key kid may have a phone to assist a single parent or parent with limited resources in keeping tabs on their child. Let's face it sometimes adults in charge of our children don't always make the best choices so I will protect my child at all costs and you can block any unwanted activity from the phone.

Beth - posted on 04/09/2010

I have no problem with my 11 year old daughter having one, I love it that she is using it to communicate with her friends because at that age, haivng a social life is all they're interested in and I will not deny that to my child. She always has it with her so I can contact her and know where she is at or isn't supposed to be. Amd if her dad or I would ever be late picking her up from schoolor anywhere else, she has our number already in her phone to call us, and vice versa. I am realizing that having a cell phone is more of a necessity for my daughter to have, and it teaches her responsiblilty and gives her more independence.

Penny - posted on 04/09/2010

The rule in my house is when they need to spend a significant amount of time away from me (not including school hours) they can have one. I think my daughter was 13 when she got her first because she was always traveling with cheerleading. My son who is almost 11 doesn't have one yet. A lot of his friends do, but he can use the phone at home or my cell when we are away all he wants and he is fine with that. It is not a status symbol, it should be used as a way of contacting your child if they are away from you. Unless, like a previous responder commented, they buy and pay for it themselves.

Christine - posted on 04/09/2010

I would say that each situation is individual. We got a cell phone for my 12 year old son this year, which is 3 years earlier than his older sister's were allowed to have one. He, of course, had asked because nearly all of his friends had one - but the deciding factor was that he is often home alone for a couple hours at a time. We both work until 5 or 6 pm, one sister in college and the other busy with extracurricular activities and work - so we decided it was wise to get him a phone. He has a lot of restrictions and we are trying to utilize it as a tool to teach him some additional responsibility.

Linda - posted on 04/09/2010

I agree that 11 is too young for a phone, too. My kids (10 and 11) bug me all the time, but my answer is the same as most folks I know... When you're old enough to get a job and pay for a cell phone yourself, you can have one. At that age I just don't think it's necessary... at all. It's all peer pressure and 'social status' at this point.

Tiffanie - posted on 04/09/2010

My kids all start Middle school at 11 where we live... They have all gotten one at 11.. my oldest just turned 16...



But as with everything, its up to your judgement as to how responsible they are.. oh.. and I am step mom to the older 2 girls.. I made it my mission when they were little to instill in them responsibility and respect. The oldest did have a couple issues, but she figured them out when she had to pay for the loss of her first phone!

Melanie - posted on 04/09/2010

It depends on the child.My son will be 12 in July he has one.

Robin - posted on 04/09/2010

My son is 11. He has a cell phone, but it isn't used very often. He spends the night at his friends house, so he can call me anytime he needs to. He is not aloud to take it to school. I feel better letting him go somewhere with the phone. If his grades are not kept up then he looses the privilege of having the phone.

Tara - posted on 04/09/2010

I also have an 11yo boy that would love his own cell phone - but has absolutely NO reason for one (besides being irresponsible and I know he'd lose it!). Lots of his friends have them, but I am sticking to my guns on this one. Maybe when he's 13 or 14 - maybe. Still not sure, I didn't have one until I was 35! :-)

Debbie - posted on 04/09/2010

My son is 11 and has Autism. He has a mobile phone in case he gets into difficulty as he is trying to be more independent. I think that now a days if a child is going to secondary school they should have one especially if they miss their bus. At least they can contact or vice versa to let you know.

Rogena - posted on 04/09/2010

There comes a time sometimes where you can't be on your child every minute. Have you seen where in a second children disappear . Anything can happen to our children,wherther they are being suppervised by an adult or not you never know, and things can happen in a blink of an eye, why take a chance.IT comes to how and what you are willing to do to keep your child as protected as possible for whatever is waiting for him.At least you won't have to wonder what if he had a way to call for help.

Sarah - posted on 04/09/2010

My 11 year old son has a cell I got him when he was 10 and it has been a blessing, times when I need him to come home early I can just call him. His phone also has a GPS tracking device on it, and living in Florida with all the kidnappings around here, thats a good piece of mind for me. He might use 30 minutes a month on it, but if his grades drop or he shows lack of responsibility its taken away...but i guess it depends on the maturity of the child. My son has never dropped, lost or damaged his phone. He never abuses his minutes and keeps his grades up!

Amy - posted on 04/09/2010

My 10 year old almost 11 has a phone and I love the ability to keep in touch when he is off with friends. He likes to download ring tones off line (free). And so far it hasn't broke or got lost. So I am ok with it.

Claudia - posted on 04/09/2010

Hi Diana, 11 yrs old probably don't need a phone but having one is such a social status these days, My 11 yr old got one when he started middle school, more for my conveinence too, ie I'm running late, or dad will get you today. Now he's 12 and I like it for safety when he goes to the park with friends etc. I do have to monitor the late night texting though. But everyone's circumstances vary. Use your best judgement. Also Kajeet is a great first phone. You control who calls , its prepaid and they can't run up costs. Look up online.

Kristi - posted on 04/09/2010

I think it is ok. My oldest son is 11 and young for his age, he is in 6th grade this year. All his friends have cell phones so he had been asking for one for awhile. My husband and I bought him one from Virginmobile for x-mas. Our rule is that we put the initial $20 on the phone and we will add the required $20 every 3 months and anything over that he has to pay for out of his own money. IE: birthday, x-mas, and he does work for his grandpa to earn money. I liked Virginmobile's prepaid because it is relatively inexpensive and I have more control. They have a function that you can login to your account on their site and see call history in and out and text also. That way I can keep track and he doesn't feel like I don't trust him! It is also great for when he gets in trouble because now I have something that is really important to him to take away when he is grounded! LOL!!

Tamara - posted on 04/09/2010

My daughter has had a cell phone since she was maybe 10, she is 12 and will be 13 in July. I think that sometimes a cell phone can come in handy especially when your child is away from home. ONe of those prepaid phones is what whe has. Now giving her a cell phone with a contract you are wasting money because the phone bill will be outrageous.

Sarah - posted on 04/09/2010

let me tell you with all the kidnappings here in florida my kids arent allowed to go anywhere with out one. we have family phone tracker on ours always a chance of your kid getting kidnapped and it just makes us feel a little safer. my kids dont use that many minutes if thats what your worried about as well

Paula - posted on 04/09/2010

AMEN!!!! I'm 52 and I just got a cell phone are you kidding me!!! What is wrong with these adults who think that is ok. These children need books not cell phones. My son is a great student and he loves school. They do not alow cell phones in his school. THANK GOD!!!!

Paula - posted on 04/09/2010

My son is 10 he will be 11 in May. All his friends have cell phones. I refuse to give him a cell phone there is absolutly no need for a child to ever have a cell phone. I know all the arguments to say, well I want to be able to contact my child. Your child should always be supervised by an adult and we should be in constant contact with the adult. Children today are aloud tooooooooo much freedom.

Carrie-Anne - posted on 04/09/2010

I don't think she should have one. Mine is 10 yrs. and I till her if your friends play on the freeway. does that mean you are too? she would say noway mom. is your 11yr old going to pay for a prepayed phone? anyways good luck.



Carrie-Anne

Rogena - posted on 04/09/2010

JUST THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILTYS OF NOT HAVING ONE.

Rogena - posted on 04/09/2010

LOOK at this way maybe it could have saved some of our children from being attacted by someone who was wanting to hurt them in some way.They could alert someone.IT could also help the police in finding them maybe before they were hurt.YOU as a parent need to think about what is imporant to you for your child,don't be so easy to say no, they can have rules. MY son calls his friends on the house phone to save his minutes.I'm not waiting for the day to come, just to save 20 dollars when i could possibly saved his life. MY childs life is to important to me to take chances, i don't want to think about what if he had a phone.

Rogena - posted on 04/09/2010

I have an 11 year old boy and he has a cell phone. I did it because i need to know where he is, and in case of emergency's i can get to him faster than looking for him.IF for some reason he' needing to contact me 'he has a way to do that. IF for some reason he is in a position where he needs help, for whatever reason he can call 911.IT MAYBE CAN SAVE HIS LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE. YOU NEVER KNOW.

Rogena - posted on 04/09/2010

I have an 11 year old boy and he has a cell phone. I did it because i need to know where he is, and in case of emergency's i can get to him faster than looking for him.IF for some reason he' needing to contact me 'he has a way to do that. IF for some reason he is in a position where he needs help, for whatever reason he can call 911.IT MAYBE CAN SAVE HIS LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE. YOU NEVER KNOW.

Amanda - posted on 04/09/2010

I think a pre paid cell phone is fine. If they want their minutes they will do their chores, and you can pay them their allowance by puchaseing their cell phone minutes for them they need of a month. Or you can give them the money when they do their chores and it is their responsability to save their allowance up in order to buy their own minutes. Walmart has a great plan .3o dollars a month (prepaid so no credit checks) will get your child 1000 minutes, so many text messages, and a limited amount of internet. Also you can get tracphone for pretty cheap. You can easily find tracphone at a dollar store. Yes I think these days kids need cell phones, if for nothing else to have for emergencies. You just don't know what can happen and they need to be able to reach you and you them. I am pleased with my oldest son having a cell phone. If I need him home right away for any reason I just call him. Or if I go to the store and feel I need to check in with him (cause he will watch my younger two boys) then I just call him. Its also great device to have if they get into trouble "ok give me your cell, your done with it for one week". And if you make her responsable to purchase her own minutes than she will learn some good lessons. She will learn how to save money, she will learn budgeting, she will learn about paying bills. And the first time she runs out of minutes before she has the money to refill, she'll learn.

Wendy - posted on 04/08/2010

My daughter is 11 and she bougth one with he own money last year after christmas. The agreement was if she did her chores and her grades stayed up that one week of her allowance would go to mintues on the phone. After a year of having the phone, we decided to put her on our monthly plan. Even at ten she was very responible with her phone and only really used it when she was outside with her friends or over at a friends house. My best suggestion is you know your children, if you think she is too young then maybe wait a year and look at it then.

Saprina - posted on 04/08/2010

My 12 yr & 10yr olds both have a cell phone. They have Boost Mobile so it's one flat rate every month. My 12 yr has had a phone for 2 yrs now. The reason being, @ yrs ago she was going tpo a Magnet school and it seemed like every day she was late getting home. The bus would always break down. So my husband and I decided that in this instance she needed the phone. She stills attends the Magnet school and I have stressed to her and my 10yr old that as long as they keep up thier grades I will keep the phones on as thier dad had wished, but the moment the grades drop or chores are not done I keep the phones.

Maria - posted on 04/08/2010

I think you should consider what is right for your family. My son has a phone, he is ten years old but the only reason he got one to began with is because our older son moving out on his own and got his own plan. We do monitor his calls and texts. It comes in handy when he goes to stay at his friends.

Chandra Dawn - posted on 04/08/2010

I honestly think no cells should be given to anyone still in school. They are a distraction from their school work and can be used as a method of cheating on tests and exams. I do agree that they should have a cell when out of the supervision of their parents or away on trips so that they can keep in touch if they need help. I do agree that when the child is old enough to make their own money and pay their own cell bill and handset then ok but until then definately not for an 11 year old.

Allison - posted on 04/08/2010

I agree Kathleen. A boy my kids know has lost or broken SIX phones in the last 2 yeras. I wouldn't put up with that!!

Kathleen - posted on 04/08/2010

My son was 10. He had strict guidelines, and had to be responsible. He proved himself trustworthy. I got it for my own piece of mind, to be honest. I'm glad I did. It depends on the kid, the situation and the parenting involved.

Allison - posted on 04/08/2010

My boys (triplets) got phones when they were 11 because they were headed to middle school. They were not allowed to text for that year (6th grade) but just before 7th grade we signed them up for unlimited texting which they pay for ($5/month). That's all they do anyway! And we can and do check their phones and insist that they are in the charger on the main floor of the house from 9pm. It has been very convenient for me that they have the phones. I can let them know I'm running late to pick them up at various activities or they can let me know they are getting out late/early. We text a lot and they have even shared some things that maybe they wouldn't have in person, but then we talk live about them. All in all it has been a good thing but they know that if they don't behave appropriately, the phone will be one of the first things to be taken away.

Sandie - posted on 04/08/2010

It is a good idea in my opinion. My son is 9 and he has a cell phone. When he goes to a friends house or walks to the corner store with a friend i know he can always be reached. If there is an emergency he can call for help. Now a days i feel it helps keep him safe and in touch at anytime. It also has given him a real boost in confidence and responsibility.

Brandee - posted on 04/08/2010

I think for certain reasons an 11 year old should have a cell phone. We gave our son a cell phone due to sports reasons. The team would practice without parents and so he would have a way to get a hold of us when practice was over. He would also use it for when he would go with friends and have a way to get a hold of us for any reason.

Kutia - posted on 04/08/2010

I dont see the problem as long as you monitor what they are doing on it. my 11 yr old kept asking me and I finally gave in becaue she was using my phone and her friends was calling my phone, or I would end up giving them the number to where she was at if she wasnt with me. as long as they are responible with it and dont abuse the privlidge.

Kutia - posted on 04/08/2010

I dont see the problem as long as you monitor what they are doing on it. my 11 yr old kept asking me and I finally gave in becaue she was using my phone and her friends was calling my phone, or I would end up giving them the number to where she was at if she wasnt with me. as long as they are responible with it and dont abuse the privlidge.

Stephanie - posted on 04/08/2010

We got my daughter a cell when she was 11 getting ready to turn 12. It was more due to the fact that she plays sports and is sometimes traveling out of town. Having said this, we are pretty strict about it. We go through her phone and read her messages, we ask who she is talking to etc...if she acts like we "are bothering her" about doing this, we just take it away for a few days. We have only had to do this a couple of times and she is not allowed to take it to her room at bedtime or have it on while she is doing homework or anywhere near the dinner table.

Renee - posted on 04/08/2010

Well it all depends, if she is responsible, grades are good, and everything is ok, I don't see y not, my daughter had a cell phone @ 11, in today's technology you can almost get any type of plan for a cell phone... The one thing with my daughter at that time tho, was she downloaded ringtones, a lot so watch that, and watch out for monthly recurring charges for downloading ringtones and then having that $9.99, had to deal with alot of those as well.. Goodluck..

Ondene - posted on 04/08/2010

I think it depends on firstly the child. My son is 12 and he bought himself a cel phone with the money he had saved up. Because he bought it he gaurds it with his life and I think it showed that he was resposible.



Secondly it depends on the situation. My son is involved in alot of sports and I have a full day job. I like that he can get hold of me to let me know when soccer is finished etc. He can also let me know if he needs to be fetched early and I can also let him know if I am going to be late. He also gets a certain amount of airtime from his dad and I a month and when that runs out he has to use his pocket money for more or just wait till the end of the month. I think this is all teaching him to be responsible and grown up about money and taking care of things that belong to him

Adrienne - posted on 04/08/2010

The ONLY reason I purchased a phone for my 10-year-old daughter was that I commuted, everyday to work and I wanted her to be able to call me on her way to school and on her way home. Having the cell outside of that became too overwhelming of a responsibility for her, and it seems, for her friends. Peer pressure not only wss a thing just at school. It was now able to follow her home - name calling and the works. So, I allow her to have the phone until she comes home from school. Then, itls plugged up and charging in my room. From there, she and I have peace and any phone calls that come in can be monitored. This is just my take on the situation.

Zoe - posted on 04/08/2010

I have an 11 year old boy who has a mobile, its a pay and go. He doesnt really use it, only if he sleeps out he can text me, otherwise he uses it more for the music he downloads. i think its an image thing. i feel it depends on the child, if you feel they are responsible enough to own one.

Debbie - posted on 04/07/2010

My son is 11 and has his own phone his Granny got it 4 him and I agreed then.Now 6 phones later in 1 an a half years I don't think he is responsible enough 4 it .Sure its nice if he had it when i need to talk 2 him but its always somewhere he isn't!.Thats just my take on it they all have them its really up 2 u guys .

Suzane - posted on 04/07/2010

I think the main point lies behind the reasoning and the level of responsibility your daughter exhibits. My daughter is 12 and dances on a competition team. Her dance studio is a 40 minute drive from our home/school and she spends several days/week there. It is very important to me, as a working mother who is often away from the office, to be able to reach my daughter and for her to be able to reach me when schedules change. I also feel safer in general, knowing that she has a method to call for help should she ever need it. I started her with a Firefly phone which has limited calling possibilities and also had her pay the service fee every month for 3 months; this taught her the importance of making on time payments and helped her to understand that there are costs associated with USING the phone; it's not just a matter of buying a phone. She has since "graduated" to a regular cell phone and we have never had an instance of phone abuse. She knows that I regularly review her text messages and have ultimate control over her phone.

I think that responsibility and maturity are far better indicators of readiness than age and only you can really judge if she is ready and if the phone serves a valuable purpose.

Kimberly - posted on 04/26/2010

I think 11 years old is too young to have a cell phone but I'm thinking of having one for when my kids are out biking or Boy Scout camping and times like that.

Amanda - posted on 04/20/2010

My daughter is 11 years old and she has a cell phone. I finally allowed her to have one because she walks quite a distance to school and walks to visit friends in our neighbourhood. It was mostly a safety concern on my part. Her dad got her a used phone that didn't cost much and I paid to activate it. Its on a pay as you go plan and she pays for her own time out of the money she earns from her paper route. I don't think putting an 11 year old on a regular cell plan is a wise decision. They need to learn more responsibility first.

Maikki - posted on 04/14/2010

i think we as mothers need to get with the times. My 11 year old has a cell phone. She knows her limits and sticks to them. plus with a lot of plans you can track usage online. why not? why do you think they are too young? Every child is different in maturity level. I believe there is nothing wrong with it!

Lydia - posted on 04/13/2010

My niece wanted a cell phone at 11 years old and my sister made her write a paper on logical reasons why she needed one (no because my friends all have them.) She also has strict rules and sticks by them.



Our oldest just turn 11 years old and we are discussing getting him a cell phone this fall when he goes to middle school but we have told him he has to prove his maturity. Do what he is told, clean up after himself, getting up and ready for school on his own, being responsible for his school work, and the respect. He has clearly shown improvements in all areas, slowly but there. Of course he will also have to continue doing these thing to keep a cell too.