Getting a phone for 13 year old young man - any advice?

[ttfn3]

DH and I are ready to take the plunge and get our soon to be 13 year old son his first cell phone, and the same time we upgrade our phones with Verizon. So - what should we be looking for in his first phone - especially in terms of service? I would like to hear from the experienced parents of teen cell phone users. I'm leaning towards a plan with unlimited text messaging. I have a feeling it will be worth it.

 

[golfgal]

Unlimited texting is about $5/month/phone, each text costs what, 20 cents. That $5 is spent in about 34 seconds of texting with a teen . Yes, get the unlimited texting. Actually, our kids rarely talk on the phone, they text 99% of the time-which is ok with because they don't have their phone to their ear when they text. You will probably find you like the text feature after you get used to using it as well.

As for the phone itself, get whatever phone is the cool phone--that is free. We don't have the insurance plans on our phones. The deal in our house is if you lose your phone, too bad. If you go over the minutes, you pay the extra. The kids have been very good about the phones.

Oh, get a home charger and a car charger=you pay extra for the home charger but it is worth having. Getting on of the rubber cases is a good idea, helps prevent the phone from breaking because even if you are careful, you will drop your phone at some time.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DH and I are ready to take the plunge and get our soon to be 13 year old son his first cell phone, and the same time we upgrade our phones with Verizon. So - what should we be looking for in his first phone - especially in terms of service? I would like to hear from the experienced parents of teen cell phone users. I'm leaning towards a plan with unlimited text messaging. I have a feeling it will be worth it.

Definitely worth it. DS texts a lot more than he has calls.

 

[piglet too]

Another saying that unlimited texting is the way to go. My DS said he would not text much, glad we did not listen to that.

As for the phone, get one that has a "real" keyboard. That is what DS got for his birthday, and I am starting to wish I had one too.

 

[clh2]

This is going to sound REALLY stupid. But I know it happens. My DD proved it.

Make sure that with the "texting phone" i.e. one with the keyboard - the screen is pretty unprotected. Don't shove it in a backpack full of books - the screen can get smooshed.

My DD also has proved that if you are handwashing items - keep the phone away.

Luckily - DD pays for the phone insurance for her phone!

 

[SydSim]

Yup, getting a cell with a "Qwerty" board is good - teens love to text with both hands. That being said, we got our 12 year old a new phone last year and limited her texting to eight per day. I didn't want her to get a cell and start texting a million times a day - I felt that she could earn unlimited texting in the future. So far, it has worked out great.

 

[MNT568]

Unlimited texting is a must. Also, if you are not getting a data package and the phone has mobile web access make sure you get Verizon to block it. My friend's DD ran up a $400 bill listing to music and surfing the net on her phone! When my DS got his phone, I let him download a couple of songs for his ringtones and a wallpaper, then I called verizon and had them block his web access.

 

[ttfn3]

Thanks everyone for your advice. The blocking for web access is a must. I like the suggestion to let him download a couple of things before we block the access. (Yikes! A $400 bill. I can't afford that!)

I'm leaning towards unlimited texting - because I will probably use it to communicate with him at times. However, I'm sure there will be times I'll have to him to put up the phone and lay off the texting.

Anything else I should block access besides web access? I was trying to think from the viewpoint of other kids sending him stuff - in addition to stuff he may "accidentially" access.

 

[IDoDis]

If this is his first phone, I would recommend you not start out with the unlimited texting from the get-go. Save your money and get him the 500 texts per month for $10.00. He'll get unlimited Verizon to Verizon texts and then 500 non-verizon texts outside of that. His first couple of months, that's probably all he'll use. Eventually you'll have to add the unlimited which you can do online very easily.

My DD started out with the 250 texts per month and that lasted maybe 3 months. Then I bumped her up to the 500 texts with unlimited Verizon-to-Verizon texts, and that was good for about a year. I monitor the number of her texts on myverizon.com.

So just last month she went on a week-long trip with her friend's family and she was texting up a storm! I checked her usage online and noticed she had maybe 80 non-verizon texts left and ten days to go before the new month started. Then, I checked her texts the next morning and she had already gone over the amount by 14 texts! I just switched her plan online to the 1500 non-verizon texts per month for $15.00 per month so I wouldn't have to pay the overage. I think once school starts she'll be back down to the 500 texts a month because with school and skating, she doesn't have all that much time to be texting and the kids at school are not allowed to have their phones out except for during lunch when she's with her friends anyway.

I know eventually (maybe another year?) we'll get her the unlimited texting, but I also told her she's going to have to chip in with some of her allowance money since she's the only one who texts in the family.

 

[golfgal]

If this is his first phone, I would recommend you not start out with the unlimited texting from the get-go. Save your money and get him the 500 texts per month for $10.00. He'll get unlimited Verizon to Verizon texts and then 500 non-verizon texts outside of that. His first couple of months, that's probably all he'll use. Eventually you'll have to add the unlimited which you can do online very easily.

My DD started out with the 250 texts per month and that lasted maybe 3 months. Then I bumped her up to the 500 texts with unlimited Verizon-to-Verizon texts, and that was good for about a year. I monitor the number of her texts on myverizon.com.

So just last month she went on a week-long trip with her friend's family and she was texting up a storm! I checked her usage online and noticed she had maybe 80 non-verizon texts left and ten days to go before the new month started. Then, I checked her texts the next morning and she had already gone over the amount by 14 texts! I just switched her plan online to the 1500 non-verizon texts per month for $15.00 per month so I wouldn't have to pay the overage. I think once school starts she'll be back down to the 500 texts a month because with school and skating, she doesn't have all that much time to be texting and the kids at school are not allowed to have their phones out except for during lunch when she's with her friends anyway.

I know eventually (maybe another year?) we'll get her the unlimited texting, but I also told her she's going to have to chip in with some of her allowance money since she's the only one who texts in the family.

Our unlimited texting for 5 phones is only $20/month. Each phone would have been $5.99/month. The limited texting doesn't make sense to pay more for fewer texts.

OP, keep in mind every time your DS RECEIVES a text and he reads it, you are charged for it.

We have not blocked access to anything on the kids' phones. We simply told them that any time they do, they have to pay for it. They don't want to waste the money. We haven't had an issue in 5+ years of teenage cell phone usage.

 

[IDoDis]

Our unlimited texting for 5 phones is only $20/month. Each phone would have been $5.99/month. The limited texting doesn't make sense to pay more for fewer texts.

OP, keep in mind every time your DS RECEIVES a text and he reads it, you are charged for it.

We have not blocked access to anything on the kids' phones. We simply told them that any time they do, they have to pay for it. They don't want to waste the money. We haven't had an issue in 5+ years of teenage cell phone usage.

If the OP texts, then the unlimited is a better deal. If only her DS is texting, she can save $10 a month during the first couple of months by not doing the unlimited texting right away. Even though I pay $15 for DD to have 1500 texts, that still saves me $5 a month because unlimited would be $20 and she's the only one who texts. I hope that makes sense.

 

[Serena]

I used to work for a cell phone company. Two of the biggest surprise costs are texting and internet use. Get unlimited texting and block internet. Once his friends know he can text, they will be texting him. Without unlimited texting, he(you) will be charged for each and every text sent and received. It's much cheaper to get unlimited.
As for internet, definitely block it. The charges rack up fast otherwise.

 

[golfgal]

If the OP texts, then the unlimited is a better deal. If only her DS is texting, she can save $10 a month during the first couple of months by not doing the unlimited texting right away. Even though I pay $15 for DD to have 1500 texts, that still saves me $5 a month because unlimited would be $20 and she's the only one who texts. I hope that makes sense.

Our plan is $20 for 5 phones together. If we only got unlimited texting for one phone it would be $5.99 for that phone. You are spending $10/month MORE by having the cap on the number of texts-at least that is how it is with our plan.

 

[DVCLiz]

OP, please just go ahead and get unlimited texting. It's not worth the very minimal savings a previous poster described if you don't already know exactly how you and he will be using the text feature. I think getting any plan that limits texting is being pennywise and pound foolish.

 

[Ohiodislover]

If you are going to allow internet use, get the unlimited data plan. Ours are only $10/month, which I make my DD pay for herself. I do pay for the unlimited texts, since she texts me a lot. It is much easier for me to read a text while at work.

As for what type of phone. I would make sure it is not a PDA phone. Those plans are often more expensive. We have always done well w/ refurbished phones to save money. You can also get chargers, covers etc on Ebay, for a fraction of the cost at the cell store.

 

[Geoff_M]

Unlimited texting is about $5/month/phone, each text costs what, 20 cents. That $5 is spent in about 34 seconds of texting with a teen . Yes, get the unlimited texting.

We finally took the plunge and moved from pre-payed service to Verizon in preparation of our daughter going to college. The first day she had her new phone she sent 40 text messages... also keep in mind that usually reading a message and replying to it counts as two "messages" for billing purposes.

Actually, our kids rarely talk on the phone,...

In something that's totally mind boggling to anyone that grew up before 2000, sociologists have noticed that more an more teenagers are incapable of having lengthy conversations on a telephone!!! It's amazing that this classic is now totally antiquated!!!

 

[SydSim]

I think getting any plan that limits texting is being pennywise and pound foolish.

I suppose having unlimited texting is great for most, but I find it good to have control over my daughter's texting at this age. She knows there will be repercussions if she goes over (and she would have to pay for it as well). She also knows that if she is responsible with the texting usage, she can earn more texting in the future.

It annoys me to see teens constantly texting and I don't want that for my 12 year old at this time. In a few years - sure

 

[tasha99]

I would get unlimited texting for a teen.

Here's a warning, though: That wouldn't include international texting. I just had to cancel DS19's phone this month because he ran up almost $500 in texts to and from a girl he met from England. I thought I had protected myself with all the blocks I'd put on the phones (no Internet, no Get It Now etc), but I got burned with the international stuff. In his defense, he swears he had no idea that the texts were not included in his plan. I believe him, but the whole situation made me decide it's time for him to be responsible for his own cell phone.

 

[DVCLiz]

I suppose having unlimited texting is great for most, but I find it good to have control over my daughter's texting at this age. She knows there will be repercussions if she goes over (and she would have to pay for it as well). She also knows that if she is responsible with the texting usage, she can earn more texting in the future.

It annoys me to see teens constantly texting and I don't want that for my 12 year old at this time. In a few years - sure

Your kid - your rules!!!

Personally, I think it's one of the issues I wouldn't choose to battle about. If I wanted that much control I would just remove the temptation of a cell phone altogether. Parents will never understand teen text usage so why get in the middle of it when for 5 dollars a month you don't have to be involved?

Being annoyed by your teens who text constantly can easily be solved by making some rules about it. I'd rather teach respect for my authority that way - limiting the number of texts doesn't really address the issue of when I do or don't want you as my child to text. I'd approach it a different way.

Still, as I said, your kid, your rules!!

 

[IDoDis]

Our plan is $20 for 5 phones together. If we only got unlimited texting for one phone it would be $5.99 for that phone. You are spending $10/month MORE by having the cap on the number of texts-at least that is how it is with our plan.

No, it's not $5.99 for just one phone. I've checked. If I'm wrong, someone please set me straight. I checked and the price is $20 for unlimited for the family plan, $5 a month for 250 texts total, $10 month for 500 texts and no limit on Verizon-to-Verizon, and $15 a month for 1500 texts and no limit on Verizon-to-Verizon.

I don't text and don't plan on it. DH has a pre-paid phone because he rarely uses it, and DS won't get his first cell phone until he starts middle school. That leaves only DD as the texter. I could pay $20 per month for her and I to have unlimited texting, or pay $15 a month for her to have 1500 texts and unlimited verizon-to-verizon texts. Once school starts, she'll go back to the $10 per month for 500 texts with unlimited verizon-to-verizon. That saves me $5 or $10 a month depending on what texting plan she's on.

I just checked her usage for this month (which started on July 21st) and so far she's sent 58 and has received 67 non-Verizon texts. For her free Verizon-to-Verizon texts which have no limits, she's sent 212 and has received 243. Most of her friends also have Verizon phones, so those texts don't count towards her limit. That's why I don't pay for unlimited because I'd be wasting money. I know that will change later on, but for now, paying a lesser amount for only the texts she'll use is saving me money.