My 11 year old turns 12 in a few weeks and she wants a cell phone. I am thinking about getting her one. Has anyone else out there done been in this situation? Was it a good thing or a bad thing?
Any advice helps..thanks
2006-06-23 02:07:08 · 21 answers · asked by SouthernKNC 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Everyone that says that a 12 year old "don't" need a cell phone doesn't know my child. 12 year old's don't play outside anymore....they stay after school for games, clubs whatever. This day and time, I don't understand how anyone can make it w/o a phone.
2006-06-24 05:36:17 · update #1
I know that boys and girls are incredibly different, but I just bought my 12 year old a cell phone on my package. He has been very responsible with it.
Cellular companies are so high tech they can do virtually anything. You can get your daughter a phone that the cellular company can pre-set to only allow telephone calls to certain phones and receive in only from certain phones.. You can also block text messaging and many other features.
You know your child better than anyone in the world - if you feel like she is mature enough to handle a phone - get her one - just let her know, that in the end - you are still the boss and that the telephone is a privilege - hence: abuse it ...... lose it!
2006-06-23 04:25:55 · answer #1 · answered by Amy 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why in the world would a 12 yr old need a cell phone?? If she is in school all day and hopefully not going out a lot on her own at night, she should be OK w/o a phone. Maybe you could teach her at a young age that there are more important things to life than spending every waking hour talking about non-important gossip from the time school gets out til bed time.
Just b/c your 12 yr old wants something, it doesn't mean you have to run out and get it for her.
2006-06-23 02:13:42 · answer #2 · answered by kreale_78 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is so funny that you asked this. I have a 12 year old and he wanted a cell phone so I got him a prepaid cell phone and he has to pay for the minutes. He either has to do jobs around the house or he has some birthday money saved up. I would never get him a contract. I also wanted to tell you that it has come in handy when I am going to be late or he is going to go somewhere he can always get ahold of me.
2006-06-23 02:16:18 · answer #3 · answered by Nikki 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion a 12 year old doesn't need a cell phone. Her main focus should be education, playing outside with her friends and various other child activities. When did the kids in this country become too grown to be normal kids. My child won't have anything like that.
2006-06-23 10:53:46 · answer #4 · answered by guineasomelove 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think it's a good idea. At 12 she doesnt need one- she's at school or at home. At 12 she's not driving anywhere and has to say where, when, who and why when she goes out. This is an image thing and you are being made to keep up with the joneses. Let her find other ways to fit in and look cool.
If she is ever in an emergency situation she will be with a responable adult already. And if not there is always someone around that will offer the use of theirs....
2006-06-23 02:37:12 · answer #5 · answered by An Opinionated One 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A neighbor boys who will be turning 8 in oct has a cell phone. My son who will turn 10 in feb does not have one but is getting one for Christmas. We are getting him a pre-paid phone. They ride there bikes around our neighborhood and they can call to let us know where they are and we can get in touch with them. We see it as a secruity measure also.
So I do not think it is unreasonable to get your 12 year old daughter a cell phone.
2006-06-23 03:22:39 · answer #6 · answered by shop4tots 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. 12 year olds don't have a cellular telephone. in the event that they are in activities, the colleges have telephones. i'm 40 9 and that i survived dealing with activities, etc. with out one. At 12, there ought to constantly be some variety of grownup supervision and that they could enable your baby to apply it. while they start using is while they must be allowed a cellular telephone for emergency use in user-friendly terms. At 18 they could do what they choose for the main section.
2016-10-31 08:33:53 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Been there and did that! Yes BIG mistake, she is now 14 and has lost or broken 4 cell phones so she now has NONE! It is a maturity issue so if you feel she is mature enough try it out, you can always take it away. Just get prepaid and have her to earn her minutes, clean her room, good grades, help with chores, etc
2006-06-23 05:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by slf620 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm in the same situation. You got to answer this question though..does she REALLY need one? I can understand getting one in certain circumstances but I would only get the kind you pre-program with the phone numbers. There is actually no keypad but a few buttons and each is pre-programmed by the parent. IT's called a firefly.
http://www.mobiledia.com/news/27261.html
2006-06-23 02:25:23 · answer #9 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if she goes over to her friends and does alot of school activities then get her one. that is so then you don't have to worry about her all the time and you can just call every once and a while.just make sure shes responsible with it.but if she is going to talk on it all the time then don't get her one if does talk on it all the time then there's no purpose for it because she will waist all of her minutes.make sure you get the same company to.like if you have Verizon don't get her cingular.you can also get here a firely.so then she can call certain people.that is probably the best cell phone for kids.
2006-06-23 02:22:36 · answer #10 · answered by kid that kills 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋