what type of cell/mobile would be good for a 12 nearly 13 year old?

Question

Hi; I was just wondering if anyone could suggest from experience what type of cell/mobile phone would be good to give a 12 nearly 13 year old. They all seem to have all these MP3 players and 3G stuff on now but I dont want to give her one that is really expensive incase she loses it (its for my sister who I take care of) I was just wondering what ones other people give or would give their kids (i know she is my sister but i take care of her) so it will be me who is giving her it

Answer 1

never give a child (especially a 13-year old) expensive phones. if possible, get your sister one of those free phones.

i had a customer who bought a phone for his 13-year-old sister (well, you don't look like him so im guessing you're not the one). 3 months later, the careless sister breaks the phone and they come up to me expecting me to fix it? first of all, i asked them if they wanted insurance, they declined. second, i explained to them that if something happens to the phone, it's not my responsibility. however, i still tried helping them and i loaned the sister a phone (which was in good condition) until she is eligible to upgrade her contract or i find a spare part for the phone. about a month later (still no spare part) they come in wanting something else and don't want to spend money on a new phone. i told them they're not eligible, and asked if there was something wrong with the phone -- the father said, she doesn't like it because it's not a 13-year-old phone.

another customer who had a 13-year-old son, bought him a really expensive sony ericsson w600 -- only the son lost the phone. he said it was stolen. when asked how he lost it, he said he left the phone in the freezer or something (where he works) and comes back to find the phone gone. first of all, leave the phone in the freezer? i was so upset because i had to special-order that phone and i fought with my master dealer for that phone, i sold it at a very cheap price because he is a friend of my boss, and in 2 weeks, the phone is gone... and now he wants to cancel the account -- the store just lost about $400 bucks because of the carelessness of a 13-year-old boy.

im telling you, it's not worth buying kids expensive phones. they don't work, so they don't know the value of hard work and money. they think that everything can be given to them free. i can understand your concern about looking out for your sister, but it's not necessary to spoil them.

Answer 2

Sorry but I don't think any 12 or 13 year old should need a mobile.

Surely you always know where they are & how they can be contacted?

There are too many wierdos in the world to allow any child to go out of sight. They should be within shouting distance or you should have the landline number for the place where they are at.

I think you need to explain to your sister that whilst all her friends have a mobile, she has a concerned family that are looking out for her safety.

Sorry if this is an answer that doesn't help, but I think our kids are getting too much freedom at their own expense.

Answer 3

Get her something not too pricey, but with a basic camera. Most decent phones have them now so you can't avoid it that much unless you want to make her carry around a brick. Ask if she wants a flip phone or not? But otherwise I'd just go for a standard nokia with a camera but not look for a decent video camera or mp3. The Nokia 6230i is from about £100 on pay as you go and is a decent, stylish phone without being overloaded with mod cons. If you want something cheaper than that the Nokia 6020 is a down graded model.

Answer 4

If I were you, I would check with the local service providers and find a plan that used the gps chip to track the phone. There are services that will allow you to go on line and see where the phone is located and follow a trail if need be. This would rest your mind that she has a phone for emergency use. You have a way of locating the phone if she loses it or is stolen. You can also track her travels in the event she starts messing around with the wrong crowd.

Answer 5

I dont think she should have a cell phone as she is too young. Young kids having all these expensive gadgets are a target for street robbers anyway.
Why doesnt she get a paper-round and buy her own stuff? She might be grateful for it then.
Sorry for the negative response, but i really dont agree with it. Why on earth would a 13yr old need a cell phone, mp3 player and all the rest?
If its to keep in touch with the family, just get a bog standard phone that just calls and sends texts.

Answer 6

A pay as you go one

My little 14 year old sister in law just ran up a £600 bill - ooops

Why dont you ask her (or if its a pressie, ask someone of a similar age) she will know exactly what the latest hippest phone is.

Answer 7

You might look at the Nokia pre-paid phones which sell at Wal Mart for about $20. Also check on-line for special offers (I got a free phone). This way, you have no program to sign up for and you can control how much time your child spends on the phone.

Answer 8

Dude,
Cell phones are potential device for future heart deases and cancer due to their EM wave signals they constantly exchange with the server. So I would not recon any cell for any kids under the age of 16/17.

Answer 9

im 13 and iv had a cell since 4th grade and now im going in to 8th my mom got this family plan with Verison and it hasnt giving us much problems and it has reception in most places so you could get a newer version of something frokm them or you can get like a firefly or something that isnt as expencive in case she looses it. bust usually kids if they get a fone it is with them 24/7 and the chances of them loosing it is low unless the are careless cuz i no i have mine on me 24/7. it never leves my side. so good luck. and your a great bro.

Answer 10

My eleven year old son carries a Motorola i355, with only the walkie-talkie activated. This unit is rugged and somewhat moisture resistant, and with the only the walkie talkie activated, he cannot call long distance or toll numbers. So far this has worked great!