Buying a Cell Phone for Christmas: How to 'gift' it to recipient!

[diznee25]

One of my coworkers told me how he and his wife gave their daughter a cell phone for Christmas last year. They actually charged the phone and everything, wrapped it up, and hid it in the house. Now she had asked for a cell phone for Christmas, but knew her parents were tight on money so she wasn't expecting it.

After all the gifts were opened, my coworker discretely dialed his daughter's new cell phone, and it began ringing. Everyone pretended to be confused as to where the sound was coming from. The daughter found her Christmas gift under the desk in the Den! She absolutely loved it.

What a wonderful way to surprise someone with a cell phone!


diznee25

 

[Fire14]

The way I did my Dnephews was I wewnt to Verzion store and stated this is what I have in mind, this is who it's for what do you suggest. They showed me what they had, I had a local to him number assigned and just had phone for a week before I gave it to him. Granted I just added him to my contract and I pay bill.

 

[MomToOne]

I got my DD11 her first cell phone for Christmas. It's the thing she wants most in this world, but thinks she has absolutely no chance of getting for years yet Being Evil Mom, I've always insisted she won't get one until she actually has a NEED for one, not just a want. But I decided to go ahead and give it to her now because she will have a true need (as I define it, for safety) starting next September when she has to take the public bus back and forth to school. I figured I'd get it now because (1) it will give her time to get comfortable using it and (2) it meant I didn't have to buy nearly as much other stuff for her for Christmas

I think what I'm going to do to give it to her is to put it in a small bag buried underneath the tree, way at the back, so it gets found last. I figure finish up with a big bang, I guess! I can imagine the squeals of joy when she opens it!!

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

My friend did this a few years ago for her 2 kids(12 and 8) The phones were charged and ready to go. They were in their stocking (from Santa) and suddenly started ringing. The kids couldn't figure out where the sound was coming from. They emptied their stockings and saw them. Santa was calling to see how they liked the phones!

 

[MAD4EEYORE]

I got my DD11 her first cell phone for Christmas. It's the thing she wants most in this world, but thinks she has absolutely no chance of getting for years yet Being Evil Mom, I've always insisted she won't get one until she actually has a NEED for one, not just a want. But I decided to go ahead and give it to her now because she will have a true need (as I define it, for safety) starting next September when she has to take the public bus back and forth to school. I figured I'd get it now because (1) it will give her time to get comfortable using it and (2) it meant I didn't have to buy nearly as much other stuff for her for Christmas

I think what I'm going to do to give it to her is to put it in a small bag buried underneath the tree, way at the back, so it gets found last. I figure finish up with a big bang, I guess! I can imagine the squeals of joy when she opens it!!

My DD has wanted a phone for a long time and my answer has always been no. When you get into middle school then you can have one. We were talking the other night about what she wanted for Christmas and a cellphone is on the list with alot of other things (an ipad and xbox 360) She has no clue about the cost of things. I asked what she wanted the most and it's the cellphone. I gave her a sob story about the expense of the phone on a monthly basis ect. (She wants an iphone) She doesn't think she'll get it and will be so excited. My purse will be excited! She won't be getting an iphone but she'll still be happy.

I can't wait to hear all the stories! OP great thread!

 

[BrerMama]

Did this for my daughter's 13th birthday. We were on vacation and I had the phone all loaded and ready to go... ran out to get breakfast and called it while we were gone. She found it in a drawer by her bed and freaked out.

Got her a new one for her 15th birthday this year and tried to have it all charged and ready to go with her contacts transferred... but forgot that in activating the new phone, I'd deactivate her old one. She didn't figure it out though. It was only a few hours of deactivation.

 

[kelly1218]

When we gave my brother and sister their first cell phones, we bought cheap fake ones from the toy store too.

We took the fake ones out of the packages and wrapped them up in small boxes. Mom and Dad gave them those under the tree.

When they came to my house for dinner....I gave them gift bags with the real phones in the toy packaging. they both opened the bags...saw the packaging and were really mad. they actually almost threw them out until we convinced them that they were the REAL phones..and we weren't pranking them a second time.

they were so funny since they were grumpy for hours, thinking that they didn't get the one thing they asked for.

Yeah...I'm evil like that.

 

[MomToOne]

I asked what she wanted the most and it's the cellphone. I gave her a sob story about the expense of the phone on a monthly basis ect. (She wants an iphone) She doesn't think she'll get it and will be so excited. My purse will be excited! She won't be getting an iphone but she'll still be happy.

Yeah, DD11 really wants an iPhone too - not because she has any real need for it, but because "ALL her friends have one" While that's not completely true, it is amazing to me how many 11-year-olds have iPhones. Heck, I don't have one because the plans just cost more than I can justify to myself for a cell phone! So DD will have to make due with a texting phone. It's a nice one, but definitely not "smart" in any way. So while I'm sure she will be over the moon just having a phone for a few weeks, she will then start the complaining again to get a "better" cell phone. Ummm....NO!

 

[XYSRUS]

Same as the others....for my kids, I have it all set to go. Wrap it up and then call the number as they're opening the gift. Kids freak every time! It's really is a step toward being an adult!

 

[PaulaSue]

FOr my DD she is getting hers for her b-day this week. I have it and going to wrap it in a bow and put it under her pillow and call it when it is time for her to wake up. She will LOVE it!

 

[MineMail]

What is a "texting phone?"

 

[diznee25]

FOr my DD she is getting hers for her b-day this week. I have it and going to wrap it in a bow and put it under her pillow and call it when it is time for her to wake up. She will LOVE it!

What a clever idea!

Speaking of kids getting cell phones at a young age.....Our niece got her first cell phone when she was 9 yo! (And that was 4 years ago.) DH and I couldn't believe it but of course we didn't say anything, because we're not the parents. But wow!


diznee25

 

[mickeymaker2003]

What is a "texting phone?"

Most likely a "texting phone" would be one that has a different key for each letter instead of the standard keypad where you have to touch the key up to four times to make one letter.

 

[bjscheel]

We got DD13's last February- it wasn't a special occasion or anything. I got it all set up (Tracfone), and we put it on her pillow early one morning. Then I called it and called it...and she just laid there. Her sister was going nuts watching her not respond. Eventually we got her attention- she thought it was DH's phone making the noise and couldn't be bothered to check it out.

At the time we got her the coolest phone Tracfone had to offer for our area- it slides up but just has the regular phone keys. Now Tracfone has a slideout with full QWERTY keyboard- I got one because my phone was 3 years old. Now DD is jealous and wants to upgrade her phone that is only 9 months old...DH thinks we should, I haven't decided.

 

[MomToOne]

Most likely a "texting phone" would be one that has a different key for each letter instead of the standard keypad where you have to touch the key up to four times to make one letter.

Exactly. One with a QWERTY keyboard. Maybe that's just the slang we use for it around here? It's easier than saying "QWERTY"

 

[Minnie116]

FOr my DD she is getting hers for her b-day this week. I have it and going to wrap it in a bow and put it under her pillow and call it when it is time for her to wake up. She will LOVE it!

We did something similar. I gave my DD11 a bunch of clothes for her birthday. I downloaded a birthday ringtone onto the phone then tucked it into a pocket of a sweater that I got her. when she was getting close to opening that package my DH discretely called the phone. She said that she thought it was one of those singing birthday cards. Needless to say she was very surprised. Especially since we (DH) was very clear on not wanting her to have one yet.

 

[skip323]

I did the same things as OP mentioned for dd12. On her bday I went into her room and hid the phone behind something in her closet. then I dialed it while she was in there and told her that whatever alarm clock was on .... or whatever it was...she needed to turn it off.

She and dd10 went all around the room (the only problem was that it stopped at a certain point but I went out and dialed again).

it was fun! I also had it fully charged and had picked an initial screen saver and ringtone. She was not expecting it at all.

the issue now will be how to suprise the 2nd kid when it is her turn!

 

[PaulaSue]

Just to update.... Wed was her b-day, Tues I put a bow on it and hide it under her pom-poms right behind her alarm. (I started working nights). Plan was to call her right behore her alarm would go off. So I called her she loved it! Come to find out it all was a show for me. Sister ratted her out that she found it the night before because she actually cleaned her room. Who would have thought