Kids and Cellphones: This is one reason why...

[HM]

My kids have Kajeet phones (pay as you go).
One of the features is the ability to set the hours that the phone can be used. For my kids (14 and 16), I set it so the phones will not work between 11:30pm-6am. I can also check online and see every call or text they make, when, and how long.

For me DD who is very social....I pay $20 a month for unlimited text and 150 talk minutes. For DS who is a rare phone user, I do pay as you go and spend maybe $15.00 at most (his plan has a per day charge no matter whether he uses it or not of .32 cents).

 

[mjkacmom]

I was thinking the same thing. My son is 11 also. I am still with him for all sporting practices and games. And if he is at a friends house he could use their phone.

To each their own , but my kids will be in at least middle school (7th grade) before they get their own phone. It will be because he starts going places with friends without me and if he needs me he can get a hold of me, .

Of course DS wants one now. Absolutely not. I told him no reason, you are with your dad or me all the time or with the parents of one of your friends who have a phone. If he wants to foot the bill OK, but he hasn't agreed to that yet.

Wow - I haven't stayed at ds11's practices since he was around the age of 8! There are NO parents at any of his practices, except the coaches, and I think DH would be weirded out of any of the parents stayed at his practices (because it doesn't happen). Ds calls me when practice is over (on his cellphone), and I pick him up. He also bikes around town with his friends, and carries his cellphone. Why should his friends have to use their minutes for your ds to call you?

I was actually thinking of getting one for dd8 when she turns 9. She gets dropped off at dance classes 4 nights a week, for a couple of hours each night, and sometimes has workshops for up to 5 hours. Last night, we forgot to pick her up (we were only 15 minutes late picking her up) - would've been nice to let her know!

 

[DWGal210]

I am reading this thread, thinking of how excited I was as a college freshman to get a cell phone....

 

[ozarkmom]

My kids didn't need cell phones at 8. I will say though when they were younger we had some problems with friends calling our house from their land lines late at night. We also caught our daughter using the house phone after we went to bed.

 

[mommytobug]

My dd is 10, will turn 11 in November. She has had a phone for several years. I allowed her to upgrade to a blackberry about 6 months ago (with her own money). It works for us and I dont really care what anyone thinks. OP-do what is best for your child. Dont look to others for guidance as we all have our own unique situations.

 

[PrincessParty]

Not to justify, but my younger DD has had a cell phone since she was 7 and in 2nd grade. Now to explain, she doesn't "have it" during the week or at school. My DH just retired from the military and we have friends all over. I got tired of my battery being dead after she used it to call her friends on the weekends using free minutes. It was part of a family plan and the phone was free. My older DD needed one for afterschool activities so we got the family pack.

Every night all 4 phones are in my room to be charged, that way I know there are no late night calls or texts. Will NEVER take the kid's phones again on New Year's Eve, as I said, retired military, we got phone calls at 1, 2, and 3 AM with wishes for a Happy New Year.

To each their own, but responsibility needs to be taught.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

DD got a cell phone in 1st grade...yeah I said it. She is the most responsible girl around. I work downtown, DD would call me the second her and her younger brother got into aftercare, and she would give me a run down on their homework assignments. Then when I get off the train- I'd call her, tell her I'd be there in 6 minutes and to start wrapping things up. When I get into aftercare kids are all packed and ready to go.

To the poster that inquired about not going to practices, etc.....well, since DH works night and both kids are in a ton of activities - sorry, but can't be 2 places at one time. Just can't do.

DD has life threatening allergies, while I realize that if she is having a reaction she won't be able to call me....BUT if she is uncertain about something to eat, she calls me in an instant to verify if she can or cannot eat it. This way we prevent reactions.

To each his/her own - this is what works for our family and for $10 a month, I consider it money well spent.

 

[tmarquez]

I agree that this issue has nothing to do with cell phones. Definately a parenting issue.

But on the cell phone issue, DD(7) has a firefly (it can only call certain numbers and 911). Much too young in many peoples opinions.

She has it for my convenience and because I trust her more and she has more common sense than MANY adults.

 

[sunnyday123]

My DD has a phone, has since she was 8-when she bought her own Firefly. Her Father put her on his plan, and it's priceless. She's responsible enough to know when is too late to call someone ( 9pm ) and doesn't text-overload.
She doesn't carry it with her all the time, in fact we have to remind her to take with her. And I do read her texts. She's 11.