Cell Phones for Teens / Tweens.....

[nmmom95]

My DS12 got his phone at the beginning of 6th grade. He doesn't "need" it, but texting is basically how he & his friends communicate. When I was his age, my parents got me my own phone line. I think of a cell phone as the modern version of a teen line.

 

[Colleen27]

A cell phone (especially in today's world of cell phones) is usually both a high $ item and one that comes with likely comes with internet access and the ability to text. Either of those things can open them up to a whole world that IMO they really dont need to be having such easy to access to.

For people that have kids that need them due to practices and the like, do they run at random times? Here practice / scout meetings and the like run from a start time to and end time. They typically dont run long or end early by more than a few mins and we know up front if they are going to end at 7 / 7:30 or whatever.

Cell phones can be as expensive as the buyer chooses. My son's phone is a simple flip-phone with no internet capability and the no texting (the phone can text; we have it disabled). It was free with a contract extension that we'd have done anyway, because DH's work line is the primary on our cell account and we need that to remain stable.

Here, both football and baseball tend to practice "till whenever" on non-school nights. DS's Friday night practices have ended as early as 8 and as late as 9:30, and when he has Friday games they sometimes hold short practices afterwards. Since we live not 5min from the field, it really is easier for him to call for a ride when they're done than for me to be there waiting for an indefinite length of time, especially if DH isn't home and I've got to take both my girls (8 & almost-2) with me.

 

[2girlsmom]

My daughters, currently 9 and 12, have had their phones for 2 1/2 years now. We got them after the school sent them both on the wrong bus after school (not the same wrong bus either, 2 different wrong busses). We concluded that they needed the ability to get ahold of us at any given moment, so we got them both phones on our family plan (the phones were free, the charge is $5 per month per line). We initially programmed their phones with all the family phone numbers (us, grandparents, aunts & uncles cells) so that they would have the ability to reach someone if they needed an adult, we live within 1/2 mile of my entire extended family, so if they couldn't reach us at work, my parents or sister or brother would be able to get them. After loading the family contacts, we used the security lock to block incoming and outgoing calls from any numbers other than those in their contact lists, so didn't have to worry about them running up excess minutes, etc. Since then we have added texting to our family plan, and have added their friend's cell phones, to their contacts so they can call and text them too. They have both been very responsible with their phones as far as not using too many minutes, etc. My dh and I both have Android phones, so we have data/web, but the kids do not, and will not. Right now I am confident I can trust them not to access or download things they shouldn't, but I recognize that within the next couple years they might, if they had access, do so, and I don't want the responsibility of that, so all internet is blocked on their phones, and they will not be allowed to get an "upgrade" phone that has internet/data plan required.

 

[mjkacmom]

Your middle schoolers would tell you that BEFORE school-wow, that is pretty responsible

LOL - that's what I was thinking! Dd13 has no idea where she's going after school the morning of, and her Choir director is famous for last-minute after school rehearsals.

 

[Tinkmom75]

My DD16 has had one since 7th grade. We got my DS12 one at the start of this school year. The phones didn't cost anything, but were 9.99 for add a line. It is convenient for me to be able to call them and ask where to meet them after practice etc. Also, my DS goes to a few neighbors houses and he can call me to check if he can go to a different friends house. I also can call him for dinner etc. If he's said he did his chores and goes and I notice he didn't he gets the call. It is really and electronic leash

I didn't used to care for texting but now I love it.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

We got dd10 a cell phone for Christmas this year. She dances a minimum of 8 hours a week....plus competitions. Most days she has an hour or more break between classes. It was just more convenient for everyone for her to have a cell phone during those times for questions about homework and such. Does she NEED it?? NO, but it's a convenience.

She does have unlimited text on her phone but that's mostly because of our family plan. I also have usage control on her phone so I can set a maximum monthly minutes and texts for her to use and it alerts me when she's close.

 

[aprilgail2]

We originally got my dd a cell phone when she was 10 because she was coming home from school to an empty house one afternoon a week and I felt better that she had a phone on her as she walked from the bus.

Now she is 12 and old enough to walk or ride her bike to friend's houses, the ice cream shop or soccer practice without me hovering over every step, but I still feel more comfortable when she has a phone on her.

I got my daughter one this year at 10 years old. It gives ME peace of mind when she is out riding her bike to her friends house or over to the italian ice store or bagel store. She calls when she gets to her friends house and when she is leaving she calls to say what the next stop is. She was over at the park playing with friends and called to say they were leaving the park and going to another kids house. I LIKE knowing that she can call and update me on where she is going and when. She would have a lot less freedom if I didn't have a way to keep in touch with her. At 10 years old that is a bit old to be stuck just playing on your own block!

 

[elgerber]

For people that have kids that need them due to practices and the like, do they run at random times? Here practice / scout meetings and the like run from a start time to and end time. They typically dont run long or end early by more than a few mins and we know up front if they are going to end at 7 / 7:30 or whatever.

My dd got one when she was 9 1/2. In her case for dance practice. Not because of random practice times, but because one night on my way to get her, there was an accident, and they closed the road I was on. I ended being 20 minutes late to pick her up and found her crying when I got there. Got a phone the next day. I was not going to see that face again.
She didn't really start using it for texting until she was close to 13 though. Now she is 14 and texts like crazy! But she also has multiple activities and gets straight a's in advanced classes, so it's ok with me.

 

[pozey]

Both my 14 year old DS and my 11 year old DS have phones. And have for a couple of years.

I'm a single father, and it was MY choice to give them phones so that I can be in contact with them at any time (other than when they are in class).

My oldest DS has swim practice in the early afternoon before I get off work. He rides the bus home to a friends house and goes to practice from there. I like that I can contact him anytime I want.

Same with my younger son.

TO ME...having them have a phone is almost a necessity more so than an extravegant item.

 

[mamacatnv]

Why?
Because we deemed it appropriate. DD was 10, DS was 12.

 

[leo711]

My 11 yr old has a cell. I got it for him so he could communicate with me after school on his way to the after school program or to home. Some days after school events are cancelled and he needs to let me know this. The school has one office phone for students to use. If he waited to call from that phone he would miss the bus. This way he uses his cell and goes home on time where an adult will be waiting to meet his bus because of this call. His phone is controlled. He can only call and receive calls fron numbers I program into his phone. When he is older we will change the security restrictions on the phone.

 

[leo711]

My 11 yr old has a cell. I got it for him so he could communicate with me after school on his way to the after school program or to home. Some days after school events are cancelled and he needs to let me know this. The school has one office phone for students to use. If he waited to call from that phone he would miss the bus. This way he uses his cell and goes home on time where an adult will be waiting to meet his bus because of this call. His phone is controlled. He can only call and receive calls fron numbers I program into his phone. When he is older we will change the security restrictions on the phone.

 

[RadioNate]

My DS 9 does not have one...yet. He will be getting one when we move this summer. It is solely for MY convenience.

I want it with him if he is out in the neighborhood and I don't want him to have to rely on another parent to be able to use the phone if he is at a friend's house.

It will be my phone for him to use when I deem is necessary. There will be no text messaging and no one will have the number but our immediate family.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our kids (13 and 11) share a Tracfone for when they are at various activities in case they need a ride home early or for a similar reason. They don't do texting or call friends on that phone. It's just for use when we're not together and the only numbers on their phone belong to me, dh, and a trusted adult or two.

That phone will also come in handy when we go to WDW in the fall. I'll be traveling alone with the kids and if I leave them briefly to get Fastpasses or whatever then it's good to know they have their own phone on them.

If you want a phone for emergencies and quick calls only (no texting, no chatting with friends, etc.) a Tracfone is the way to go! I buy one 60 minute card every 3 months for their phone for about $20. If my kids want to chit-chat, they can use my cell or the landline. They don't text. I don't have texting on my cell plan.

 

[5lilfish]

Based on another thread here....

Does your young teen / tween have a cell phone and if so why? This is in reference to younger, middle school aged kids, and not someone who is 15/16+ that may be in HS, have a job, be driving and the like.

I've seen in a number of threads about how people have kids that are 10, 11, 12 and such with cell phones.

I currently have a 10 1/2 yr old, finishing up 4th grade, and he doesnt have one and none of his friends do either.

Where exactly are these kids at, without an adult of some sort present, that they need their own cellphones for to call people??

Honestly, I don't think anyone needs to justify buying a cell phone for their child. First of all, not everything has to be a NEED. Second, judging by the results of the poll, having a cell phone at this age is certainly not uncommon.

But.....our reason:
We have 5 kids. Our oldest 3 have phones. They are 10, 11 and almost 13. They are very on-the-go and we have reached an age that they are being dropped off at many activities (mostly sports practices). We had a situation earlier this year...my DD's soccer coach (young lady with no kids yet) cancelled practice at 5 pm, one hour before it was to start, by e-mail. I did not get the message. When I dropped my DD off at practice, my 12 yr old son walked her in. He came out and said that the coach wasn't there yet but a couple team mates were...so we left. I ditched my 10 yr old. Thankfully there was someone that she knew and she could borrow their phone but things like this happen.

My second reason....my kids are old enough to ride bikes around the neighborhood. The oldest 2 will walk home from school. I like to know that they can always get a hold of me in an emergency. I also like knowing that I can always get ahold of them.

Jess

 

[aprilgail2]

I currently have a 10 1/2 yr old, finishing up 4th grade, and he doesnt have one and none of his friends do either.

Where exactly are these kids at, without an adult of some sort present, that they need their own cellphones for to call people??

My 10 year old is going to Jr. High in Sept. She is not with an adult every minute of every day- they are out bike riding or at the ice cream store, going over friends etc. They are 10 years old for petes sake- they don't need mommy helicoptering over them every second of the day!

 

[SunshineOR]

My 11 and 9 year olds share a phone. They play a lot of sports and sometimes a coach ends practice early. I feel a lot better knowing they have a way to contact me rather than standing at a gym or soccer field waiting for me. They are only allowed to call or text Mom and Dad, sometimes Grandma and Grandpa. They will gradually get to "earn trust" over the years to get the privilege of calling or texting friends, but it will be a couple of years before we start getting there.

Other issues, we do not have a landline and if Dad and I are in different places with our phones, we like to have a phone to leave home for kids and sitter and a third cell phone is cheaper than a landline.

 

[krcit]

I have 3 kids 15, 11 and 9. The 15 has had hers for about 3 1/2 years and the 11 year old just got hers today. My 9 year old will get one at the same time(end of 6th grade) unless I feel like I want hm to have one earlier. I got them for my piece of mind actually. The middle school is across town and there is 1 pay phone for 1000 kids so I wanted them to have it. I was gving my 11 yo mine when she walked to the store with her friends and didn't want to do that anymore so I got her one a little early..now instead of the end of June.

 

[disneycruising]

I have a 16 year old DD that drives and has a job. She has a phone to reach us if needed.

My boys (12 & 14) have life threating food allergies...they carry cellphones incase of an emergency. If they need to call 911!

My DD 10 goes to a school 45 minutes away. She has a cell phone incase she needs to reach me.

We have a 'family plan' on our cell phones. All of our kids phone are blocked... only numbers that I have approved can be called or can call them. They have unlimited texting to anyone in there approved list.

 

[disneycruising]

My boys (12 & 14) have life threating food allergies...they carry cellphones incase of an emergency. If they need to call 911!

My DD 10 goes to a school 45 minutes away. She has a cell phone incase she needs to reach me.