Cell Phone for Childern

Really? That seems young to me. Also, who wants to pay that bill? You can't expect an 8 or 11 year old to be responsible for keeping track of minutes, and I know from my own experience, those overage charges can be terrible! Beyond that, there was a study released about how the use of cell phones by kids is possibly a medical risk, because the waves can get through childrens' skulls, since they are not fully formed or as thick as an adults. I am not planning to let my kids have them when they are old enough to ask--I assume they will get their own when they can have a job to pay for it.

Melissa,
I agree for the most part with all of the "stick in the muds", I have a 12 year-old daughter who walks from her school to dance and gymnastics two days a week while I am at work. It's not a super far distance, maybe a half mile, but it is in a busy downtown area. I did get her a cell phone, but for security reasons for ME! I was terrified every day that she walked to dance or gym as I didn't know if she made it alright. I know as a kid I had to walk to the same ballet class by myself, but that was many many years ago, and times have changed unfortunately. She calls me when she leaves for dance, we talk for a few minutes, hang up and I am there to pick her up when she is done. She is very responsible and conscientious about her usage minutes. (Sometimes better than I am!)
You know your children. Are they responsible enough right now for a cell phone of their own? Will they be respectful of the limitations you put on their having a cell? I don't think it's a matter of how old should your child be before you get them a cell phone, but how mature and responsible your child should be when you get them a cell phone.
I do agree with everyone though that the elementary kids do NOT need a cell phone, they should be supervised at all times at that age! Besides, in our area, elementary children are not allowed to bring cell phones to school! They always have access at school to using a phone in the office to call home or mom at work anyway!

I think it's a matter of opinion. It can be useful for finding out where your kids are at, and some can be equipped with GPS for emergencies. Since I can add a line for $10, someday it might be worth it to me if I can convince my kids to not go over my minutes during the day.

Hi Melissa,
I am a fellow stick-in-the-mud! I work at an elementary school and am shocked at how many young kids have phones. What does a first grader need a phone for? Parents say it is for safety so their child can always reach them? Are you kidding me? Elementary aged kids should always be supervised anyway. What happened to good old fashioned PARENTING.
Having ranted all of that... :) my daughter will have one when she is 12 and off to middle school. I made this decision because she will be riding the bus and there have been transportation issues in our area. Also she is involved in after school activities and I will feel better if she can reach me if something unexepected comes up. However, the first time the phone becomes an issue or a distraction it is gone until the problem is solved. Phones are a privilege, not a neccessity like kids today seem to think.
Take care,
B.

I didn't get my kids cell phones until my oldest started highschool and they had a lot of after school activities and were starting to go places like the movies and mall with just friends. They don't really need them before then, and if they do need to get in touch with you, there's always someone else around with a phone.
For highschool kids, cell phones have become a way of life. It's their primary way of communication.

The big negative of kids having cell phones that they're very expensive. I had a basic plan for just myself that cost about $20 per month, then when I added 2 kids with unlimited texting it went up to $145 per month! (my plan was advertised as $99 per month but with all the extra taxes and fees added, the price really jumped)

So don't let your kids presure into getting something they don't really need and thy can't pay for themselves.

I used to think that cell phones were only for adults too. I did get my daughter her first cell phone when she was twelve. My thought was for safety issues primarily as she walked home by herself along a very busy road. There have been times that she would be nervous and she would talk to me on the phone, while walking, until she reached a place that she felt comfortable. I think she has shown great resposibility in that she had the same phone for two years with no damage and only "misplaced" it a few times, that and she doesnt really like to talk on the phone much, so she has never, and I do mean never, used all of her minutes. Now that she is going into high school, that may all change, but I know that I can get ahold of her and her me, when the need arises.
I think I would ask the kids, why they want or feel they need a cell phone and see what their reasons are. I have friends that have young kids with phones and I do think there is an age that is to young, like six or seven, unless maybe its a phone that can only call mom, dad or for help. I, personally dont think it should be used as a status or popular issue, even tho that does come into play at some point, regardless of the age of the user. I also felt that being a single parent, her having her own phone has been a posistive more than a negative addition. Good luck, hope this helps a little.

I say no way. Kids don't need cell phones unless they are out on their own somewhere, and you need to get a hold of them. Look at the new stories of the kids who get into trouble with them, as well as the research starting to become popular again that they may cause health problems like infertility and brain tumors. Even if the research is wrong, why take the chance on something that wasn't necessary? It's also pretty expensive unless you're going to make them pay for it, as most kids are not responsible to keep track of activity. Our plan is when the kids are driving, and then probably borrow ours.

Call me a stick in the mud, too, because I think it's absurd to give children cell phones. I even think the amount of teenagers with them is too much. If you were more concerned about them being able to call home or you being able to call them, there are cell phones out there where you can pre-program a few numbers and those are the only numbers they can ever call (I think Disney makes some) and I've seen texting phones in the toy departments (like walkie-talkies but texting so you have to have a set and give one to another friend). But I would never give my young child a cell-phone to call and text at their leisure. I say you've made the right decision. Maybe at 16 when they start driving and you'll need to get ahold of them....and that's a big maybe.

Call me stick in the mud number four...!! I have a 12 year old begging me for the same item. NOPE! When I get the whine of how come, I say because I said so. End of discussion. You are not a stick in the mud. They are lucky you let them borrow yours.
:)

LT

There seem to be enough of us we could start a 'stick in the mud' club! I'm with ya...

I see no reason for a child under 13 to have a cellphone and ONLY then to have restrictions on whom they can contact. Kids that walk to and from school alone, go to the mall, movies or so forth with their friends without parents I see there a great idea for them to have one for safety sake. Again, it is about the "new technology" and kids really wanting just what that is the latest and greatest that hits in waves for one kids then others add on and it is all about wanting what someone else has. Kids can email their cousins.
I got my own phone and phone number when I was 15, ONLY if I could pay the bill myself and lord knows it was used in groundings by being taken out of my room and that was in the late 70s. I had to pay the bill. I think if a child can pay the bill, which can be enormous with texting and so on, then they can have one, otherwise, unless they have a real need as being alone or the above there is NO good reason for a child to have a cellphone! Kudos for you for sticking to your guns.
Tell your kids when they can pay the bill, then you will discuss it with them!

I think it all depends on your family and how active your oldest is. We have 7 children and of them only the 11 yr old has the cell with us on our plan. We have strict rules on it and she uses it wonderfully. The only thing that we did was start on a cricket plan for her to see how much she used it for certain things. (that was only month to month on a $25 month deal) She barely used the phone but used the text all of the time for her friends who had them (which was a lot of friends)We then dropped the month to month and just added her to our plan for the $10 month and limited her to 300 texts a month for $5 more. I dont have text on mine and she knows that it limits her to about 10 per day. She isn't allowed to "talk talk" to friends unless it is after 7pm and she uses our home phone for anything during the day. I feel super safe knowing that now when she leaves to go to a kids nite out or dance class or soccer or volleyball that if i am not there she can be as close to me as if she was calling from our next door neighbors. She has used it responsibly. I also have to 8 yr olds and they will not get the phone until they are about 11 or 12 like she was .... however..I can see just with the personality changes in them that one of them might not pay attention to usage so I may have to keep a closer eye as she is a lot less responsible than my oldest at that age! She may have to prove she can get one...I can patiently wait for that time to come! I do not believe that children under 12 need one however I had an 11 yr old in so may activities and social events it was a smart thing to do. Good luck! And...you are not a stick in the mud....I had to be talked into it by her and her father and stepfather that she was responisible anough.

Six? Are you kidding?? No way. Kids don't need cell phones. It's more financial responsibility for you to pay the bill. More distractions for them to avoid getting things done (like schoolwork and chores, playing, broadening their imaginations, etc...), one more thing to be targeted by bullies and thieves, and I could go on and on and on... It's ridiculous for a child to have a cell phone. I parrot what the other posters said. There's no need until they're well into their teens and there's a good reason for it AND they're responsible enough to handle it. Good grief! You're on the right page not wanting them to have one at this age...