At what age did you decide your child needed a cell phone?

[dejr_8]

My 10 year old wants one. No way. Maybe when he is 14.

 

[momof1princess]

my 11 year old DD has been hinting about a cell phone too, b/c her bff got one for christmas. i've told her she'll get one when she needs one, which, at this point, she doesn't.

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

My 8 yr old DS is trying to convince me that 'everyone' has one...I'm not convinced .

I've been talking about this with a neighbor who has an 8 yr old also, and a 14 yr old. She let her oldest have one about middle school age (age 11-12) for sleepovers and playdates so he could call home. He has only once or twice abused priveledges, and had to pay the bill off himself then get it taken away for a little while (both times for texting, not talking).

I'm thinking around 12...maybe. My DS will have to mature quite a bit and be more responsible. Not before then, though.

 

[krcit]

My oldest got hers whe she was starting middle school. School is across town and she plays sports so I fee better with her having one. I will get one for the other 2 at the same age.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I wanted DD to get it when she was 13 (tomorrow), DH decided 12 was a good age. But she was starting middle school, so she has had one for a year.

 

[penguin087]

DS got one when it started to become inconvienent for me because he didn't have one. I think he was 12. When he started middle school and was doing things after school. Practices and things dont always end when they are supposed to. I was spending a lot of time waiting around so I got him a cell phone so he could call when he was ready.
He was by no means the first kid to have one. The youngest I've seen is 8.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We got our oldest one when he was 10 because that is when he started walking home from school. He's 16 now and has always been responsible with his phone. None have ever been damaged or lost and he's never been excessive with calls or texts messages (he used to text a lot, but not like I've heard some do and he always stayed within the limits set).

Our 6 year old wants one now. I don't think so.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

My oldest DD got one at 11, her sister got one at 8. I find it comes in handy when they are playing at the neighbors house...I can call her to come home without exercising my lungs

 

[MushyMushy]

I never decided my kids "needed" one. But I gave my daughter my old Tracfone when she was 9, and her brother got on my wireless plan when he was 12. For her, I had no reason. She was just a good kid and liked playing with the phone. She used it more for games and showing off rather than calling anyone. For my son, it was one extra little tether I had to get in touch with him when he was out with his friends.

 

[Cool-Beans]

When the football practice that was supposed to be over at 4:45, with kids showered and outside at 5:30 turned into football practice that ended at 5:00 with kids that weren't outside until 6:00 or later.

I was sick of sitting in the car waiting, so DS got a cell phone. He was a happy camper that day.

 

[debster812]

DS just got one for his 12th birthday. He's starting to go off with friends to places, and he'll be playing on a soccer team this summer, where LOTS of carpooling takes place, so I feel better with him having one.

We've laid down what I think are some pretty strict guidelines, and so far, 3 weeks into it, he's been VERY responsible about it all.

 

[Swimnoid]

When the football practice that was supposed to be over at 4:45, with kids showered and outside at 5:30 turned into football practice that ended at 5:00 with kids that weren't outside until 6:00 or later.

I was sick of sitting in the car waiting, so DS got a cell phone. He was a happy camper that day.

Same type of thing for me. DD was in a play that was in a nearby town rather than just local. Rehearsals were over at inconsistent times and after dark. If they let out early I needed to know so I could l get an earlier start. She was 15.

 

[MariDisney]

My DD got one at age 7. Her dad and I are divorced, and her calling me when she was supposed to was an issue that the cell phone solved. Now at 9 1/2 it is very convenient for her to call if dance rehearsals are running late, etc. I will also say that at least 2/3 of her 4th grade class had them...not that I think you should do what everyone else is doing, but just for information.

 

[clh2]

DD got one when she was going in to 4th grade. She started coming home alone after school, and it was cheaper for her to have a cell phone than it was for her to call on the landline - to my office - which at that time was all we had available to us.

Adding her to the cell phone plan I have available from work was only $10/month.

Clearly, she got the cell phone for MY convenience at that time. She still has one (just turned 15...) and in some regards, she still has it for MY convenience...otherwise she would be hogging the landline...

IMHO - the right time for a child to have a cell phone is when it makes life easier and less worrisome for the parents.

 

[disykat]

16 when he started driving. My 14 year old will get one at 16 as well.

Prior to that we had one cell phone I always carried and a trac phone with some minutes that we kept for either child or dh to carry if needed. My dh can't have his phone at work for security reasons, so he doesn't generally carry one.

When my 16 year old got his phone, we upgraded to a family plan. We have 3phones, mine, my 16 year old's and a 3rd phone that is dh's that my younger son can carry if needed.

 

[ginna74]

I got one for my daughter at 13 and she was NOT responsible enough for it and it was taken away. She did some things that were not appropriate at all and I am glad I took it away. I did get one for her at 15 and a half and I am glad I waited. she has matured greatly.

My 11 year old son has one and he is mature enough to have it. I trust him emensly.

I guess it depends on the child.

it also helps me as well, I know what is going on at all times and I feel a great comfort. It is seccurity. Technology can be a good thing too And when I want to know what is going on all I have to do is call, there is no more wondering, driving to wherever, calling parents, I am a telephone call or text message away from my kids.

 

[GeorgeG]

When they were old enough to buy their own.

All three of my children were adults by the time cell phones became popular and two of the three grandchildren are adults now and pay for their own. As far as I know, the eight-year-old grandson in Sweden doesn't have one yet. I only have one as an evil necessity. Most of the time it's off and sitting on my desk at home.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

We used to say it would be middle school before dd got a cell phone, but we decided we wanted her to have one in 4th grade, at age 10, when she was arriving home from school off the school bus about 10-15 minutes before I got home. I felt better. She was thrilled.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

Were it not for 9/11, which is when I got a cell for my DS (he was 13), he would not have had one until he could afford to pay for it himself. Cuz that's how I roll...

 

[GJM]

My DS got one when he turned 8 - he doesn't really use it, but I like the fact that he has one. And it didn't cost a dime - the phone was free and I just added the phone to our plan. It only cost $10 a month for it to be added on.

The reason for the phone - DH is deployed and I wanted him to have a phone with the numbers programmed in the way he would know that person and their phone number.