What age is okay for a cell phone?

Beth - posted on 01/05/2012

depends on your needs, i would imagine. i went for a phone early, and several cheap ones were broken in the learning process. teen years, it made it easier to communicate and coordinate pick-up times. i still check them randomly. of course, i do accept a lot of kid interactions as just that - kid interactions. some parents have a LOW tolerance for what kids say to each other. we talk about appropriate, but they ultimately need to find their own expressions with their peers, as long as they're not experimenting w/harmful behaviours. just my perspective ...

De Ann - posted on 01/03/2012

My older children got their cells when they turned 13 so I guess the two younger ones will follow. If something happens where we feel a cell phone will be needed then we will discuss it then. My 8 year old went to a birthday party when she was 7 and it was her first over night away and she was going to a Sharks game so we gave her my hubby's cell to keep in touch since she knew how to text, she could tell us where she was or if she was in trouble. Now that she's 8, she takes my husbands cell phone and texts her cousin constantly...LOL. Sometimes I can't get through to him cause she has his phone. This tells me she's not ready for her own. So I guess it depends on the situation and their responsibility level. Based on the responsibility levels of the last two babies in my house, my 6 year old is more likely to get a phone before the 8 year old...hahahaha

Roxanne - posted on 12/31/2011

I saY MIDDLE SCHOOL.... but it really depends on the child and how responsible they are. I also think they should only have a cell phone to contact their parents. No texting and no internet. We tried this at 11 and she abused it highly, at 13 she had her phone taken away permanently.

Melissa - posted on 12/27/2011

My son has a Tracfone and he has to earn his minutes through chores, grades, etc. He does take it to school but knows it stays off until he gets on the bus. He is also an avid dancer and spends a good ammount of time at the studio, so its used for "Mom, I'm done, come get me" calls.

Melissa - posted on 09/19/2011

I got my daughter one when she was 12. Its handy for me because me and her father are divorced so I can contact her without going through him. I think a lot of you decision is based on maturity. Does she or he take care of other things well? Do they have responsibility?

Kim - posted on 05/20/2011

I have to laugh at this one, because my son is 11 yo and started asking last year for a cell phone. My 8yo daughter stated she thought that 12yo was a good age to have a cell phone....Well, normally it would be argument city but he just said "ok" and from that point on he has just assumed he will be getting a cell phone at age 12. LOL! I never said yes or no, but after the wonderful year he has had in middle school - perfect attendence & honor roll and the fact that he hasn't lost his MP3 player or DSi player. Guess who's getting a cell phone in a month on his birthday! Shhhhh - don't tell him... :-)

Jen - posted on 05/01/2011

Ugh; sorry long reply and I didn't actually answer your question. I think the age depends on the child and the parent. A 9 year old who walks home alone could use a cell. I know of a mother who's daughter does that..and she uses the cell to text or call her mom each time. When she leaves, and when she arrives home safely...or if there's a problem. The cell def. comes in handy then. For the kids safety and the mother's peace of mind.

A 9 year old who doesn't have to walk home or walk anywhere alone? May not need the cell for safety reasons.

It depends on the family and how they do things; like walking home alone from school or walking to a friends house etc.

Personally, I think my 6 year old who wants her own cell..won't be getting one until she's 8 or 9 at least. Maybe she'll have to wait until she's 11. She has used my cell at home to text her siblings when she wants to be included in the whole texting thing with them.

Jen - posted on 05/01/2011

My 3 oldest have cell phones now. Ages 11, 13 & 14.

Honestly; for the most part they could live without them. But if I can afford to get them cell phones and pay for a "Favourite 5" package...why not?

Kids don’t need a lot of things; as a parent we get to decide what the kids can or can’t have. I’ve decided there’s no harm in my kids getting cell phones. They can be useful too; and a good safety device in certain situations.

The kids love their cell phones. I pay for the “Favourite 5” packages. Which means they can call/text etc home; both parents cells’, and their siblings cell phones…any time for free. Anything beyond that and they have to pay for it themselves. They text each other; call each other and have a lot of fun with it. It’s cute when they call each other from their rooms; and all we hear is giggling and laughing. They can all be in the living room with us…completely silent for the most part using their cells. Every now and then they’ll all giggle. You just know they’re texting each other silly kid stuff.

They have come in handy too. The 14 year old was in an accident when biking to school. What 14 year old takes his camera around with him at all times, to take pictures of lic plates, etc? What kid carries pen and paper around with him at all times? You think he did just because he was heading to school? Nope. But...he has a cell on him with a camera included.



There have been other benefits from them having a cell phone. My 11 year old has used it to confirm that its ok to be picked up by so-and-so after school. Because both my husband and I work; and sometimes we have to rely on other's to pick the kids up from school. If we were in a rush and forgot to tell them who to expect...they now have the ability to confirm by cell phone before getting into someone's car. I am very picky over that; my kids aren't allowed to go with family members unless they've been told its ok by me or their father. Just a personal quirk...but the cell phones' come in handy for little things like that. I don't regret getting them the cells..and I see no harm yet in them having cells.



Edit: oh; and besides the 14 year old; they've all taken care of their cells just fine. The 14 year olds first cell was broken by a rough-housing friend. Who grabbed the cell and pressed down hard with his thumbs on the cell phone screen. It was still useable; but the screen was cracked and unreadable. Otherwise they take care of them just fine. My 6 year old wants a cell now; but personally, I think she needs to wait a few years. ;)

Luz - posted on 04/11/2011

My daughter got hers when she was 9 I live in NYC and even thou she was never without me, I got her one. Now she is in junior high school and is far from my house. She takes it because, she gets asthma and she can call me in case of an emergency or call 911 without having to run around looking for a phone. She is more responsible with her phones than the 19 year old he has broken so many of them I lost count. She is very careful. Until two weeks ago her phone was stolen. We got her connected again her father gave her his old phone and she had a phone again. She has friends that text her and call her. She has also established her own rules for the phone. No calling and texting obscenities, she tells them she would show me and erase them from her phone. She also don't accept calls when she is doing her homework, phone is turned off at school. She goes to bed early and her phone is turned off. If she goes with us to a place she could be separated she takes her phone and if is someone's house she leaves it home.Those are her rules not mine. She is pretty responsible like that.

Candi - posted on 12/26/2010

My oldest will be 12 in a couple of weeks, then 11, and 5. They are all too young for a phone. Tthey make enough allowance to pay for one, but why? They can talk to their friends at school. I drive them to dance, scouts, swim, and everywhere else they need to go. We have a home phone in case they "need" to talk to their friends. When they are in high school and get a job or start driving, they can get one. My kids are responsible, but a cell phone is not something they need. Next yr my kids will be in 3 different schools, but that still won't justify the need for a phone. Maybe I seem a little harsh, but thats just the way it is and my kids understand that. All my son would do is text his friend about runescape, my daughter would text her friend about other kids at school, and my youngest would just take pictures with it!

Ramona - posted on 12/17/2010

I don't see cells as a right. they get them when they NEED them or can afford thier own. My ds got his in 5th grade, but that was because he and his sister were at different schools, 2 different hockey teams, and a million clubs, other sports and scouts. So, we needed to say to each other that practice is running late, or I am on my way but am stuck behind a train, etc....

Nelly - posted on 12/05/2010

Our kids got their cell phones when they went to high school, my son and daughter share one, they call me when they get to school and they call me after school when they get on the bus once they get home their cell phone is turned off

Carina - posted on 03/09/2009

Well, my daughter got one at 13 (2 yrs ago) because we had no house phone (only cell phones) and she started babysitting. Now I have a house phone, but I just got my 13 yrs a phone because he is heavy into sports and kept getting out of his practices early. Then he would just sit there at the park at night by himself. So, it was a safety issue. I got him a real cheap phone to start with, then if he wants to upgrade it in a few months, then he can pay for it. Since I got my oldest a phone, we have gone through two or three phones (my husband goes through his phones faster then the kids do). but, I got this insurance on it where if ANYTHING happens to the phone, I pay $50 to replace it with the newest model. So, if she gets it wet or breaks it, new phone. I don't worry about her losing it because she can't stop texting....

Carissa - posted on 03/06/2009

Times have changed, I think that cell phones are more of a safety device now adays.  I don't want my son to ever think he doesn't have a safety net, so he's had a cell phone in his hot little hands since he was nine.  Buy the cheap target $15 cell, though.  Can't tell you how many times the cell has ended up in the laundry....

Tania - posted on 03/06/2009

My theory is when she can afford to pay for it herself than she can have one, all my nieces spend all their pocket money on credit so my sister is now having to pay for all the stuff the pocket money is suppost to take care of, I want to teach my kids the importance of prioritising what there money is saved and spent on. I would rather see her money saved and spent on tuition expenses or a car than credit for a phone.

Tammy - posted on 02/10/2009

My children are 11, 12 and 13 and have had a cell phone for two years (so starting at 9).  We've only lost one, once, this year, my oldest had his phone fall out on a gliding (yes up in the air.. )trip.  I left a text message on it before i suspended to account saying in bold text, if found, pease return to mom.. name phone number etc.  three weeks later, someone called me. they had found it in a puddle, dried it out and it worked. they returned it to us.  yeah.

Start training them with something you dont want them to lose.  once you are comfortable, then you can get them an inexpensive phone.  (I did the same thing with I-Pods and cameras, they got cheapo versions one year and after a year of no loss or major damage, they were upgraded to the more costly version.  Still have three for three of both.---and yes, i consider myself very lucky!!LOL)

I used to be against kids with cell phones and couldnt see the purpose.  Then one day, with all three kids downtown, I needed to make a call.  We had to walk seven blocks and use a pay phone in the the lobby of a hotel...it was staggering.  There just isnt a pay phone on every corner any more.  When we were kids, we carried a quarter, there would always be a phone.  Now, not so much.  It was then that I decided in an emergrency situation, kids are screwed. 

They each got a cell phone. on rogers, they can call each other for free, as well as parents and nana.  The have rules that are easy and understand it is primarly for emergency contact which means WE need to be able to reach them as well.

So, they turn them off at bedtime (so they aren't accidentally left on at school.. teachers dont like that and will take them.. then there is the risk of forgetting them).. they take them to school with them and turn them on right after the last bell , so if we are running late, we can reach them.  They can stay on til bedtime, at which time they go off again. 

Mine are older now, so we've added text messaging so they can keep up with friends with out killing the phone bill.  Also, rogers can turn off all media sending (pics, videio, sound) and web access, so there are no suprises on phone bill. All three still have that off.  When they pay their own bill, they can turn it on.

They also have bank cards with a maximum withdrawl amount set by me.  They have learned that when they really want money, and havent saved any, that they probably should have, and then do so.  So far, so good.

It's all about your comfort level with thier maturity.

Joie - posted on 02/03/2009

My daughter's got cell phones when they were 9 and 11. They have been very responsible with them so far. (Have had them for about a year) Their grandparents got them for them and share minutes so they are very concientous about their minutes. (They have unlimited texting however!) :) But since they walk home from different schools alone I like them to have the phone for security. I would say it really depends on the child and how responsible they can be.

Buffy - posted on 02/01/2009

Pending on how responsible they are at keeping up with things its kinda your call. My daughter is 13 has one & is not allowed to take it to school. She has to earn the money for the min. or no phone when they run out. With all the accessories they offer she has to pay for them her self. We gave her a chore list to earn the money & now she baby sits. My son will do the same except he will do lawn work.