At what age should you get your daughter a cell phone?

Dove - posted on 11/14/2012

My kid has now had a cell phone since they end of May. Just a Walmart cheapie with limited talk time, unlimited text, and no internet. She's 'bugging' me for an iPhone, but for THAT... my rule is 16 or older and paying for it yourself.



Due to her activities I need her to have the cell phone. That is the only reason she has it cuz I don't care what other families do or don't do. I parent MY kids, not anyone else's. So many of her friends have an iPhone and.... yeah, not happening kiddo. lol

Cookie - posted on 11/14/2012

I got my first phone when i was nine

Fudgemom - posted on 09/30/2012

my ten yearold has an iphone 3gs and has never lost it or used it badly

Keri - posted on 05/31/2012

I've heard of a lot of parents giving their kids cell phones to take to school. Get a phone that makes and receives calls - not a smartphone she can text and play games on - and make it clear it is for contacting you or another adult. As she shows maturity and that she can handle it, allow her to make other calls. Then once she's 16 or so, switch it up to a smartphone so she can do all the "extras"

Kelly - posted on 05/15/2012

10+ they need the phone then and yeah it is responsibility she will learn respect give a phone to her

Stifler's - posted on 05/08/2012

When they need it to be able to contact you. If they go to school and come back then I don't see the need.

Pamela - posted on 05/08/2012

Rather than age, consider the NEED. Does she really NEED a cell phone? If so, why?

This whole attitude of today's parents "giving in" to their children's demands is truly perplexing to me. It didn't matter what other children had when I was rearing mine. I didn't and never would allow what others choose to do with their children affect what choices I made for my own. Why would you?

Adrienne - posted on 05/06/2012

My daughter got a cell phone when she was nine (she is 10 now). We (her father and I) got it for her because she has always been responsible and was starting to spend more time away from home with friends and activities. She is allowed 150 minutes per month, and has never run out of minutes or not answered the phone when I call. But each child is different. If you feel your daughter is responsible and DESERVES to have one, by all means get it for her! However, setting rules and regulations concerning usage and consequences for not respecting said rules is necessary. My suggestion would be to try a prepaid phone first.

Carrie - posted on 05/06/2012

Our son is 10 years old, he'll be 11 in July. We got a pre-paided cell phone last fall, a very basic, no frills phone. His dad, & I did this for peace of mind. Our son was repeatedly told he could not use other family member's phones to call us when he was with them. This made us very angry, & hurt, & caused our son to act out in ways that were very out of character. So, to prevent this from continuing we got him a phone. We keep it when he's at home, & he uses our's, his is strictly for use when he isn't with us. If we hadn't had this issue of comfort, safety, & disrespect from other members of our family, he would not have a phone yet.

Shea - posted on 05/06/2012

My 11 year old son is wanting a cell phone as well now. He is going into middle school next year and will be doing more after school activities. I think middle school is a good time to get them cell phones and teaches them more responsiblilty. The kids going into middle school and those closer to 12 are becoming more social. They want to spend more time with friends so I think it's a good idea for parent and child communication to know where they are and what they are doing.

Elisa - posted on 05/06/2012

My oldest is 13 now but has had her phone since she was about 9 or 10.
I got it for family maping.
So as long as her phone is on... I can see where she is.
She has no idea it's even on.
So when her and her friends walk to there houses... I know she is ok.
She calls me when she needs me.
It's been great.
:)
Wouldn't change it if I could.
U can set phones up so only certain numbers can be called.
In this day in age it's almost necessary.
We live in a GREAT. Area... Nothing happens. But in last few weeks there have been a serious amount of assaults on women.
;(
All ages.... Even young girls.
And they had one disappear.
The phone is a must!!!!!

Terrie - posted on 05/05/2012

I think in this day and age that a cell phone is a good thing for your child to have on hand as long as they are responsible and you get the right plan so you can control minutes and calls. Then as she gets to be a teen then she can be aloud to to have more freedom with her phone. I am sure she probably wants it for texting friends and what have you but you will have to make the choices on whether or not that is really necessary. If she is really wanting the phone it can become an addiction. On the other hand it can be a thing where you can teach her responsibility by showing her the bill and letting her know that you do expect her to be responsible with the phone. I know my friend was very glad for her daughter to have a phone when the church bus had some trouble one night when the girls minitries were out and about doing something. She was able to call her Mom and let her know that someone was on their way to help but that it would be a little while before they got back to the church and not to worry. She was eleven at the time. I personally am rooting for your daughter. lol

Anna - posted on 05/05/2012

My daughter is 9 and I got her a phone this year. The only reason she has one is because me and her father are divorced and I have a hard time getting in touch with her when she is with him. Otherwise she would not have one.

Elizabeth - posted on 05/05/2012

Our daughter has just turned 10 and we have let her have a cell phone before. But the deal was she had to earn the money to buy her own phone. And pay for the minutes. All my kids had to do this to get a phone. My sister let three of my kids on her plan. But they had to follow the same rules. The problem with our youngest was that she lost the phone. So she couldn't get another till we said so. But I did like it when she had it. If she was spending the night some where or over at someones house I knew I could always get in touch with her and vice versa. But she is not allowed to take it to school, no exceptions.

Floria - posted on 05/05/2012

My daughter got a cell phone just before the 8th grade trip to Washington, DC. We did have some issues with her and use of the phone at school that same year after the trip. I would encourage you to make the decision based on need versus what other parents are doing.

Cathy - posted on 05/05/2012

My step daughter got her daughter a cell phone and she is only 6!

Amparo - posted on 05/05/2012

My daughter has a cell phone and she is 9. But let me clarify that a bit. We go through Verizon and we are able to set many many limits on when, who, and how long she can make phone calls. We had gotten another line for another family member, but they decided to get their own phone and we didn't want to be stuck with the large disconnect fee. So, we went online to the parental controls and put in some limits. She has a few numbers she can call, her grandmas, her parents, her aunt and uncle and her cousing whom she is very close too. Also, we were able to block out the time she is in school, so she cant use the phone between 7 and 3.
Why should she even have the phone then, you might ask. One, she does not ask to have a phone, two, if I need to get a hold of her while I am at work, then I can. She goes to my moms after school. Growing up, I did not have much. So I understand how it feels to not be like everyone else, and the teasing that can come from that.
So, if you dont want to have an outragious bill, go to walmart and get one of their prepaid phones, with the limited minutes. You don't have to worry about overages, and your daughter can work off her minute cards by doing chores around the house and doing her homework.

Elba - posted on 05/05/2012

Thanks God my children are adults, I would never buy my 10 year old child a phone what for?
If she/he is paying for it then she/he can have it. I don't care if her /his friends have phone.
The reason this world is the way it is, is because us parent are spoiling our children.

Donna - posted on 05/05/2012

When shes old enough to pay for it herself!

Christine - posted on 05/05/2012

Kids should get cell phones when there is a NEED for them not just because THEY WANT one or all the other kids have one. My daughter is 11 and will be starting middle school next year. She bugs me about it all the time. I put my foot down and told her NO! She does not need one right now. When she goes out she is able to borrow her dads. We have the security of having that connection. She has been very responsible so far with it. I may revisit the decision in the fall when she transfers to a school that is farther away.
Her friends have phones and they are not as responsible with theirs. The phones aren't treated with respect (mom & dad bought them, not the kids). They go over limits, bills are outrageous. Those who have to "earn" the phones don't do the things that mom & dad said had to be done in the first place but still the phones haven't been taken away.
YOU have to make the decision.

KATIA - posted on 05/05/2012

I got my daughter one when she was 7 mainly because when she's would go visit her father and I would call her would not answer or call back so I decided I would get her own phone, she's always been responsible with her things so I had no issue she will be 10 in June and has the same phone I thing its fine if your child is responsible

Jacquie - posted on 05/05/2012

I got my daughter her first phone when she was 7, mostly because I did not want to be like our Moms outside yelling. Lol she never listened anyway. she does know if see sees a call from me , don't care if she is on the other line with president she answers it.

Kristin - posted on 05/05/2012

When I started to date bob, he's my husband now, his daughter was 10 and she had a cell phone. He wanted her to have one so he could text and talk to her when she went to her mom,s on the weekend. Plus he wanted her to have one so if she got in a sticky situation she could call for help. She is 13 now and has a DROID. She wanted one cause all her friends have druids and I phones. She is a very responsible girl and we feel safer that she has one. My step son got a cell phone when he was 10. He loses it all the time, forgets it at our house when he goes to his mom's, and the battery is always dead. But bob wants him to have one encase something happens and he can call for help.

Sherri - posted on 05/05/2012

Hell NO!! In my opinion kids don't need cell phones before at least middle school preferably high school.

Janette - posted on 05/05/2012

my daughter got hers at 14, starting grade 9, because she was going to be taken public trasit to high school so i needed to keep in touch, my son will get a cell next year for the same reason.

DANIELLE - posted on 05/05/2012

Good morning not until Middle school

Jodi - posted on 05/04/2012

My son got a phone when he was 12, simply because he was going to be catching the bus to and from school, and also had various sports training going on. He really didn't use it a lot. He also has to pay for his credit himself, so he has always been pretty careful with it. He is now nearly 15, and he uses it for texting his friends a lot more these days, and he has a lot more freedom now than he used to, so I'm glad he has it. He still doesn't use it excessively though - it's only costing him about $10 a month at the moment, which he can afford.

I don't think you should be buying them one just because they want one. But that's just my opinion. A phone because they are getting more freedom and public phones barely exist any more, that's different. Give some thought to how much freedom she is likely to have in the coming 12 months, what sort of community you have, etc, and that will help you decide whether you think it will also be a useful tool.

Just keep in mind, too, that if they have to pay it out of their own money, they tend to be more careful about how they use it. My son spent his first lot of credit so quickly it shocked him. Since then, he has learned how to regulate his own use to a level he feels he is willing to pay for.

Sarah - posted on 05/04/2012

When she's old enough to get a job and pay for it herself.

Michelle - posted on 05/04/2012

Thanks ladies.....

Dove - posted on 05/04/2012

If she needs one any age that the need is there is fine. If she doesn't need one (or you don't have a need for her to have one)? Then my vote is for when she has a license and is out driving on her own (in case of a breakdown, etc..).

My oldest will be getting one before starting middle school since that is when I feel the need for US.

S. - posted on 05/04/2012

My daughters first mobile was 10, it was a very cheap kind of a tester phone she would take it when she went to her friends or when she went to play in the next square I would ring her to come home. She started high school at 11 I knew she was responsible with it (she didn't run down her credit, she always answerd it straight away when I rang that kind of thing) and by 11 when she was walking to school and back I Would know if she needed me I was just a phone call away, she's nearly 13 now and has a bit more freedom as they do but I honestly think her having a mobile has given me piece of mind and I'v let her grow, yes I do worry but not as much as if I couldnt get hold of her! In fact I wouldn't let her out if she didn't have it on her fully charged.

MeMe - Raises Her Hand (-_-) (Mommy Of A Toddler And Teen) - posted on 05/04/2012

My daughter did not get a cell phone until age 13. I personally, fail to see why they would need one earlier. Unless they are spending the night away a lot.