Too young for cell phone?

[Disney Ella]

My car, which I just paid $700 to get fixed yesterday, broke down on the way home from work today. I was on my way to pick up the kids from school and of course, DH was not at his desk when I really needed him. Fortunately both of my neighbors were home and we decided that he would pick me up while she would pick up her kids at their school and then pick up my kids at their school. (Thank goodness for neighbors!)

I was worried that my DDs (both 9) would freak out when I didn't show up, as my neighbor wouldn't have been able to make it there until 10 to 15 minutes past dismissal time. I called the school and asked the secretary if someone could tell my kids what happened. She didn't seem happy about it, but she took the information and asked me if the kids should wait outside or in the office. I said that they should wait outside, as that is where my neighbor would be looking for them.

My neighbor was able to get me to the school just at dismissal time so I called his wife and told her she didn't need to get the kids. My first DD came running out of the school, unaware that anything happened. We waited and waited for my second DD, and finally went in the school and found her waiting in the hall. She had been given a note that said a neighbor would be picking her up and to wait inside the school.

If I hadn't gotten there after all, my first DD would have been very upset wondering where her mother was and why her sister never came out of the school. It wouldn't have been the end of the world, but I would like to avoid the potential for such a situation in the future.

Since my DH and I both work 45 minutes away from the school and across a river, I want to be sure that I can get messages to my kids in an emergency. We are thinking of getting them a cell phone to share, but I don't know if they are too young. Would they lose it? Would it be stolen from their backpack?
What age did your kids get cell phones? Would you recommend them? What about pagers?

 

[Lachesis00]

Joey was 8 when he got a pager (which never worked... ha ha called the company and it would work if he could fit IN our mail box LMAO) due to medical reasons and 10 when we got him a cell phone, again medical reasons. I bet he logged no more the 30 hours in 3 years of having it. He shares my minutes. The child to this day is not a big talker on the phone. I did notice a lot of kids 10/11 having a cell phone.

 

[dg39]

If it will give you peace of mind, then I say get it. All the confusion you went through could have been avoided. IMHO, age really has nothing to do with it. In todays day, sometimes things like this is more needed then anything. I rather get my kids a cell phone then depend on the neighbors. Get the phone ins. so if they lose it or break it your covered. Don't worry about it getting stolen in there back pack, if it gets stolen, the ins. would take care of that also. At your kids ages, I doubt you'll have to worry about high phone usage. Peace of mind when it comes to all our kids is worth everything.

 

[powellrj]

the schools in my area don't allow children (even in high school) to have cell phones while they are in school. If they are found in backpacks or lockers they keep them until the parents pick them up at the school.

 

[DawnCt1]

Get an inexpensive prepaid, trac type phone for emergency use only. If they lose it, then you are only out the cost of an inexpensive phone and you haven't committed to a one year contract.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS's school doesn't allow cell phones either. He's another kid with a medical reason to have it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would have a discussion with your dd's about procedures if you do not show up, that way you won't have to worry about them freaking out.

I wouldn't worry since this is a 1-time occurence.

My older dd (middle school) is allowed to have a cell phone as long as it is kept off during school time.

 

[Disney Ella]

Guess I better check the school's policy for cell phones. I just assumed if the kids kept it off during school, they could have a phone. I didn't know there was insurance. I guess you buy that from the company when you buy the phone?

 

[Nancy]

Most schools, especially the lower grades do not allow cell phones to be used in school. We have 2 Tracfones...which I recommend highly....and if they are staying after and need to call me for a ride home I let them take one of the phones to school. Phone has to be turned off and kept in the lockers or they will confiscate it. (this is high school and middle school.)

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Many states passed laws after 9/11 requiring that students be allowed to carry cell phones. Otherwise, I think almost every school would ban them.

The Trac phones are pretty cheap, but really wouldn't have helped you in this case. Even schools that allow cell phones require them to be kept off inside of the school during school hours. I don't think many 9year olds are going to remember to get into their bookbags and turn their phones on once school ends.

I've always instructed my kids that when in doubt -- stay at the school no matter what. Do not leave the school, even if you have waited for hours...eventually somebody will get to you I promise.

 

[Kallison]

We are one of the apparently few families that are cell phoneless and we make out fine. I work in our school district, kids are not allowed to use them on school grounds. If they ring or take them out they are confiscated. Can you imagine phones going off all day because the parents have just one little important thing they have to tell their kids!? I"m convinced cell phones are what is causing the rise in brain cancer. Who ever heard of brain cancer when we were growing up?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
Many states passed laws after 9/11 requiring that students be allowed to carry cell phones.

Really? I didn't know that. I'm glad. My two DDs, 16 and 14, have cell phones. Altho they use them for personal reasons a lot we want them to have them because as they get older, they're out and about more. And when they have a sports game that I can't attend, I like when they call me from the bus, and then I can be there when they arrive at the school (often in the dark, as we get further into Autumn/Winter). But I also like them to have them, or SOMEONE to have them, because who knows in this day and age what could happen in a school. I like knowing that there are always be students with phones on them to call for help.

Their cell phones need to be off in school, and I agree with that, but I can still call, if I have to, and leave them a message. I'm sure they turn it on as soon as they can, at least by the time they get on the bus, or start to walk somewhere. To not allow cell phones IN school would mean they wouldn't have them AFTER school, while walking to the library, or a friend's house, or work, or wherever.

My DS wants one...he's 11, but we haven't decided to get him one yet.

I think you have to do what makes you comfortable. And I'd fight any policy that didn't allow them (OFF) in school.

Kallison, maybe we just didn't hear about brain cancer much when we were growing up because we were KIDS. But when I was kid, a 5 yr old neighbor died of brain cancer; personally, I don't recall anyone else since then that I've known who's had it, until very recently, but for that person it actually started as lung cancer that spread.

 

[momsgonwild]

I got my son a cell phone when he started participating in sporting events in junior high so he could call me if there were problems on the bus, or needed a ride home. Our schools allow students to carry cell phones with them, but they must be turned off until after school. They are allowed to use them during the day if a teacher, or office official deems they have an emergency need to use it.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Coincidently, DH and I got our first cell phones yesterday, so the discussion of when DD9 will get one has already started. In our case, I don't see her needing one right away, since I'm a SAHM and live a mile and a half from school. But, she does a ton of activities, most at school, but I could see the day coming when she might need to contact me for a ride and so forth. the Trac phone would be a good idea--discourages constant yakking (not her style now, but who knows in a few years?). For now, we told her that if the occasion arose, she would get to borrow DH's (he got the cheapo, can-take-to-work-at-the-secure-facility phone, while I have the camera phone).

I could definitely see the argument for it. Starting maybe with the Trac phone (Wal-Mart carries them), see how they do. I look at it as, in an emergency, how much is it worth? And they're probably young enough to understand that it's for emergencies only, and you can revisit the issue in a few years.

 

[poohandwendy]

Totally depends on the maturity level of the children. And I would definitely go with a prepaid phone for a minors first cel phone, until they prove to be responsible about using minutes.

That said, I think 9 is a bit young. IMO at that age, the odds of the cel phone becoming a nuisance in school outweigh the odds of them actually needing a cel phone. The situation you described could be avoided in the future by making a plan of action in case of pick up delays.