Kids and Cell Phones

I can't tell anyone what to do or when it is appropriate for a child to have a cell phone, but I think sometimes I am not old enough for one. LOL. I mean, I don't always want to be available, and thus I know how to conveniently not answer or not take it with me). I think a child would figure that out very quickly. Also, children including teenagers are very forgetful people. There is so much going on in the world that it is hard to remember something as small as a cell phone. I think that when a child begins driving, there should be a cell phone available, but for emergencies only (like a pre-paid). I may be stuck in the stone ages, but my children will not have a cell phone until they are driving. Until then, there should be some other way of contacting mom or dad in the event of an emergency.

I think that in today's world, it is essential that you have contact with your child at all times. There are phones out there that you can program so that they can only call home, grandparents, whoever you allow them to call and they can only accept calls from those numbers as well. I wish had examples of providers. I think Firefly has something like that and Disney may as well. Also, most cell phones are GPS capable which would be a godsend should a child go missing.

Well at the age of 6 or 7 it can be a little dramatic to get one. My daughter will be 4 next month, and me and my husband have already decided that at the age of 6 we will get one of the Migo or Disney phones for emergencies. That way she will not be a cell phone junkie with the phone glued to her head, but will be able to reach someone if she does need to. I am not sure if you are familiar with these types of phones, but basically there are only 4 numbers you can call, Home, and then Mom and Dad's cell phone, obviously 911. With that type of phone I think it will help to teach responsibility, we can all admitt that keeping up with something as small as a cell phone can be a challenge at times. If she does well with the MIGO phone and does not lose or break it that when she hits the double digits reward her with a 'real' cell phone.

My daughter is 7 and I know that other children at her school do have cell phones, but I do not think it is appropriate at her age. I understand the need to have contact with your child at all times, but my response to this would be why would you not have contact with your 7 year old? Where would they be that you cannot reach them?

My daughter is either at school, daycare, a family member's, or a friend's house. If they do not have a telephone or I have no means of reaching her while she is there then she would not be allowed to go.

Um, let me think...NO! I can think of no reason my 7 year old would need a cell phone. She, too, has a friend or two at school w/ one & asked me a few weeks ago when she could get one. I replied, "When I decide you NEED one." She didn't like that answer too much, but tough! When she's 12, we'll revist the idea, but only in terms of a "Firefly"-type phone that allows restricted use only. I get sick of seeing adults w/ phones in their ears every waking moment, and I think it's ridiculous to see kids like that too. I'm sure that's just me. ;)

D.

My daughter is 9 and she got one last Christmas. It is never charged and half of the time she dosen't even know where it is. It is a total waste of money. Never once has she "had to have it". IF you are getting one so that they can call in case of emergency, don't count on it. If you are getting it just because your child wants one then that is fine.

A friend of mine got one for her 9 year old. It is a regular cell phone, and I think it was a very dangerous choice. This little girl looks a bit older than she is, and already has a strong interest in boys. Now she can be contacted, and contact boys and her parents have no idea with whom she communicates on that phone. Perhaps those limited phones other moms have mentioned would have proved a better option. This just seems like a passport to trouble, because this girl can easily be put into situations for which she is not yet mature enough to handle.

I have been concerned about this girl since August, so I am glad this topic was brought up.

There is a kindergartener here at my school with a Firefly. It's a little cell phone that only has 1 or 2 buttons. It can receive calls but can only call the parents or emergency 911, I think. It's pretty cool and I think I'd be ok with my little girl having one of those.

Hi C.:

Well, I think 6 and 7 years old is too young for a cell phone. I recently got my 12 year old one of those pay as you go phones, but I did it so she can call me when she needs to, she is in cheerleading at school, so there are times she will need to call me when practice is over and that sort of thing, but she knows it is for EMERGENCY use only. I think telling your 6 year old no is okay. Parents are letting thier kids grow up too fast. Good luck with your endeavors on this issue.

B.

Hi C.,

We just got my 12 year old stepson a cell phone. That's about as young as I think it's appropriate.

C.

I too have a 6, almost 7 y/o daughter. If you saw her w/ her cell phone you would swear she was really talking- she is a great actress. She uses my old one and pretends all of the time! NO she does not have a real one. She has tried the "but my friends..." line and we just tell her that this is only one of many things her friends may have or do that she will not be allowed to do.
My 10 almost 11 y/o has had a phone since Fall and he has been great with it! He goes to a magnet school downtown, so it has been fantastic when the bus has broken down or some such thing. He also uses it when he is out bike riding. He even uses it as an alarm to remind himself when it is time to head home or check in.
I think a lot depends on the kids maturity and what they they want to use the phone for.

D.

I totally believe that kids dont need cell phones at such a young age. Its not old fashion its common sense. I think that an appropiate age is when the child is old enough to handle such a responsibility, and every child is different so ages vary..

I got one for my step daughter only to be used to call her father while she is at her mothers cause they have problems with returning our calls. She is not allowed to take it anywhere and I monitor it quite often. GOOD LUCK!

My kids will get them when they go to middle school. Before that I don't feel it is needed. In elementary school if there is an emergency there should be an adult(that they know) nearby to help them.

My 9 year old has a Firefly phone and he rarely uses it. I don't let him take it school because it is not necessary. He does take it to soccer practice or if he goes some place without me.

I have it programmed with my phone number, grandparents, and a few cousins.

My husband and I both felt it was important for him to have a phone if he was going to start roaming the neighborhood with his friends.

no i don't think a child she have a cell rather than emergency purposes. my fourteen year old niece has a pink razor phone my sister in law tells me that she runs up a pretty big bill. i am going to get my son a pre-paid cellphone from cingular. he will be turning six years old. he will only have when mommie & daddy are not with him.

I have a 3 year old, and I know we will get him a cell phone. At what age? I'm not sure yet. Maybe between 8 & 10. I've heard of those Migo phones that are for kids. They only have programmable numbers that you can put in, and an emergency button. Here is the link:

http://estore.vzwshop.com/search/devices/lg_migo.html