Age for a cell phone...

[BabyTigger99]

We were at dinner Sunday night (me, DH, DSD, DS, SIL, and her DH). SIL asked DSD what she wants for Christmas. The only thing she asked for is a pre-paid cell phone. DH and I both told her she is nuts, and she doesn't need one (she turned 10 in August). SIL says that she got her DS, who is 13, a cell phone this summer, and it is so great that he has one. But then again, she is also more worried about him being "cool" than the fact that he can barely read! DH and I are worried that SIL or my DH's mother will get her a cell phone for Christmas. SIL said she talks to other mothers, and all their kids have cell phones, so DSD should get one too. SHE IS 10!!! WHO DOES SHE NEED TO BE CALLING!!! Are we over-reacting??

 

[DawnCt]

My DS who will be 16 next month wants a cell phone for his birthday. Frankly DH and I both have cell phones and with free nights and weekends, I lend him mine when he leaves the house. I don't provide it for his use but for mine, when I need to get in touch with him. Regarding his own personal cell phone? When he can sign a contract and meet the financial obligations of one, he can have one. I wouldn't mind considering a "pay as you go" prepurchased minutes but it is easy to lose track of minutes used and have the bill double overnight!

 

[Amy]

I don't think you're over-reacting at all. My DS is 13, and this year he joined the high school marching band (he's only in 8th grade). So he's hanging out with all these high school kids who DO have cell phones and he's been nagging us to get him his own cell phone. We told him not until he's 16 and learning to drive, and then we'll seriously think about getting him a phone to have with him in the car in case he breaks down or something. And even then I'm thinking about one of those pre-paid phones just as a way of keeping the "talk time" in check.

 

[CEDmom]

No, I don't think you're overreacting. Kids want lots of things that are not appropriate for their age. That's were we as parents need to step in and set limits. I'd be upfront with SIL and MIL about the phone for Christmas. Tell them they'd be wasting good money because you have no intention of letting DD keep the gift.

I'm not sure at what age I think a cell phone would be appropriate. Perhaps when DD is in HS and is participating in a lot of activities we might consider it. Since she's only 4 we have a long time to think about it.

 

[MICKEY88]

As the parent, I would simply tell them that my child is too young for a cell phone and they would be wasting their money, even if received as a gift the child will not be allowed to use it....your DSD is your responsibility, not theirs...


we have a prepaid phone that the kids take when going to after school events/ field trips..etc...the phone is for our convenience and peace of mind,,not for their pleasure.....they call us when the bus is 15 minutes or so from the school, that gives us time to get there to pick them up without a long wait for either of us.., if going places with friends or parents of friends the phone goes along in case of emergency..they know that it is to be used for this purpose only......my step-daughter made a call to a boy she is interested in and I reminded her of the purpose of the phone, and told her she was more than welcome to call boys when she takes over paying for the phone, she quickly agreed to stick to the rules...

 

[MICKEY88]

additional info...DSD is 16...DSS is 14...
we decided on the phone when school activities made it seem like a good idea for our peace of mind....and we simply activated one of our old cell phones when we updated ours...

having seen people go over their monthly time by 60-100 dollars or more, there's no way I'd give a teenager anything other than a prepaid phone....

 

[justjulie]

I've wrestled with this idea myself for awhile now. My son is 12 but he walks home after school activities and depending on the weather, it could be 30-40 minutes. Given the time frame I wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to get him a 9-1-1 phone for emergencies. I know he's still young but he's responsible and sometimes I would just feel better if I knew he had a "lifeline" available to him should he need it (which I pray he never will).

 

[CamColt]

I think a good age is when they start going out alone with their friends(mall, movies, stuff like that).
My niece got one last year at age 13 and it was the prepaid one. That way there is no way she can rack up a huge bill if she got out of control.

 

[mamamia]

This is such a timely topic for me. My DD will be 13 in November and she has been asking for her own cell phone for the past year. When she does go somewhere with her friends, I give her my cell phone and I really had no intention of getting her one. Well of course I was watching t.v. the other night and just flipping through the channels and on HSN they had a prepaid cell phone for $89. You got the phone, the charger, a case, the car charger and a $10 prepaid card and you also got an additional $25 prepaid card and a $50 rebate. So I ordered it. After I ordered it, I kept asking myself why does she need it? I did get a good deal (I hope). It was nice because there is no contract involved and you can add minutes to the card. On the $10 card you only get 20 minutes (its .50/minute). So I guess a plan would be better, but I know what would happen. She would pay the 1st month or 2 and then I'd be paying it.

 

[bsnyder]

Both of mine got cell phones when they got their drivers license. It was really for my peace of mind, not for them.

 

[mad4themouse]

DD13 got a prepaid cell phone for her 13th birthday. It was my idea, not hers. Why? Because she had a habit of calling collect when she was staying after school for activities. I don't give her a lot of minutes, just $10 every 45 days.

It's been very useful when she has an away game. Now, I don't have to sit in the school parking lot, wondering when the team bus is going to arrive. She calls me from bus when they are coming home and I get to the school shortly before the buses.

However I agree that there is no reason for a 10 yo to have a cell phone. DS11 wants one, too. But it ain't gonna be a happening thing for a couple of years. He doesn't need a cell phone to make my life easier.

 

[Evil Princess]

10 is a little young. I see nothing wrong with 13 though. At that age they start to go out with friends, and it is a lot easier for them to grab a cellphone and let mom know that they're ready to leave the mall then to find a payphone. Plus, mom is able to keep track of kids at all times.

At least, that's how I see it. 13 seems like a good age to start, 10 seems to young, but 13 doesn't seem TOO bad.

BTW, I didn't get a cellphone until I was 15, but they seemed to have caught on ALOT more over the past few years. My brother is now 14 and he got my old one.

 

[Evil Princess]

Originally posted by justjulie
I've wrestled with this idea myself for awhile now. My son is 12 but he walks home after school activities and depending on the weather, it could be 30-40 minutes. Given the time frame I wondered if it wouldn't be a good idea to get him a 9-1-1 phone for emergencies. I know he's still young but he's responsible and sometimes I would just feel better if I knew he had a "lifeline" available to him should he need it (which I pray he never will).

FYI: if you or someone you know has an old cellphone around the house, but doesn't use it, it can still be used to dial 911. This is true even if the phone currently doesn't have a plan.

 

[4greatboys]

I do think 10 is to young but I am considering getting one for my 16 and 13 yr olds. It is mainly for me, I always give them my phone when they are out with friends, which works great if Im going to be home but if Im not then they have no way to reach me. They both go lots of places with their friends and I just cannot relax if I have no way of getting in touch with them. This way they can still do the things they like and I can have peice of mind.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS is 10 and asked for one. Two words for him...NO WAY!

 

[AMClvsMKY]

DS13 just got one 3 months ago. All the boys in the neighborhood have one and are on the same plan so the mobile to mobile is free. We have free weekends so he knows he can call anyone then without any restrictions. So far, so good. Our house phone is also on the plan so when we all go out DS10 will carry that one around. I wouldn't get him his own for at least a couple of years yet.

 

[Mishetta]

And to think.....I was 35 when I got my first cell phone!

Anyway, just adding my 2 cents to this thread....I do believe 10 y/o is waaaay too young to have a cell phone. I guess 13 is ok if the child does have a lot of after school activities but I would definitely do a pre-paid plan.

My neighbor is divorced from her 1st DH & their 8 y/o DS has everything anyone can imagine. Both parents just lavish this boy with anything & everything. Anyway, this 8 y/o child has a cell phone! I think that's absolutely nuts! He must have requested one though & I'm sure each of his parents were running to the cell phone store to be the first to buy him one! I will watch him playing with my DS sometimes outside, & he'll take his phone out of his pocket & show the neighborhood kids!

I was at Verizon last week getting myself a new cell since my old one died and I saw a mom with a very young teen son come in & she told the Verizon rep that she needed to get a new phone for her DS since he lost his! Now if that happened to my DS, he'd be buying his own new phone!

It seems to me that this matter of "convenience" has turned more into a "status symbol" these days!

 

[glo]

My DD is 12 about to turn 13 and she has a cell phone. She knows she is to use it only to call me during the day, and with permission at night. We get free nights and weekends I love the security of her always being able to get a hold of me.

 

[Mercy]

Well I have two boys, 13 and 16 (not yet driving). I have a cell phone that I use and we have an extra one that the boys "share", we give it to whoever needs it at the time. I love them having it. I can always keep in contact with them, even if it is just around the neighborhood. They don't use it to "talk" on, just as means of keeping in contact, with us or sometimes their friends. We have the minimum service on both phones and have never gone over our minutes. So to me letting them have a cell phone and the peace of mind it brings is just priceless.

 

[KathyFP]

DD (5) asked for a cell phone to go to Kindergarden. She said she needed it in case she needed to tell me something.

Needless to say, she did not get one.


I am not sure at what age I will feel comfortable. I agree with a prepaid so that they can call when they are ready to come home or check in when they are out.

Who knows what phones willbe like as DD grows up.