2006-09-10 11:39:56 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
cell phone that is
2006-09-10 11:47:53 · update #1
my step-son started out on a pre-pay plan that he had to pay for at 12. Then at 13 he got a phone on his mom's plan, and hasnt abused it at all.
2006-09-10 11:48:15 · answer #1 · answered by psychstudent 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children shouldn't be in a situation where they are without an adult somewhere in the area before they are old enough to drive.
My son is 12 an he can have a cell phone when he has a driver's license. Why would you leave a 12 year old at the mall?!! That is what is wrong with today's kids. Even if they did miss their ride from the football game,school,whatever, ever heard of a pay phone? Or an adult that could lend them their phone? Not a stranger of course, but come on...just because Suzie's mom bought her a cool picture phone doesn't mean your's needs one...
2006-09-14 13:12:03 · answer #2 · answered by lilgal22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GET A PREPAID PLAN THAT ALLOWS ONLY SO MANY MINUTES PER MONTH SO YOU WONT BE BURDENED BY HIGH BILLS.
Any provider that has full or close to full coverage in your calling area is OK if the price is competitive.
Later if she can handle a regular monthly plan go ahead but you should look into a plan that shares minutes. Alltel and others have such plans.
2006-09-15 01:18:09 · answer #3 · answered by jimbo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
14 is a reasonable age to have a cell, but I recommend a pay-as-you-go "test drive" phone first. See how he handles himself with it. If it's really a benefit and he shows he can be responsible about using it, then you can up the ante. He might even willing to pay for a regular phone/service himself, which gives you a chance to help him learn a good lesson in responsibility and self-reliance.
I base this on experience with my own son. I bought my son a pay-as-you-go phone 6 months ago. I told him if after a year he felt he needed more phone than this one, then he could have one. BUT, I also told him he would have to pay for it himself -- phone AND service costs. I wanted to be certain it was really that important to him to have a better one.
His pay-as-you go doesn't have a camera and doesn't allow for text messaging -- the two things friends told me their kids most often abused. Calls he makes to my cell are totally free (same service). Calls to his friends are limited by a preset paid amount. My son was allowed to select the phone style so he thinks it is cool looking (so do his friends, which is important for him)... and it DOES play the radio over earplugs, and has a few games, which he likes.
The reality is he uses the phone very little! His school doesn't allow phones on campus at all. The scouts disallow them on campouts. I take him and wait at his sports activities. So it's mostly when when he is off on his bike or a sleepover that he carries it -- and usually I have to remind him to take it.
He's now decided a new computer is more important than a phone and has started mowing lawns to save up for one. (Yup, I'm proud.)
2006-09-18 05:16:53 · answer #4 · answered by KarenK10 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that this is kind of silly. When we were younger, we didn't need cell phones for our parents to know where we were or what we were doing. I think that cell phones give the children WAY too much privacy. Their friends won't have to call the house, so there will be no way to monitor who your children are talking to. They could be speaking to friends their age, or older kids much older. You also wouldn't hear the phone ring at night, so it's that much easier for them to secretly be on the phone and do things such as sneak out. Some kids can handle the responsibility, but I think most kids can't.
2006-09-11 03:49:45 · answer #5 · answered by Sera B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would. Actually, I plan to get my children cell phones long before 14. I want them to be able to reach me or my husband in any situation they may need us. I had a cell phone at 13 and I can say that I wasnt the child being left behind after football games were over or after the mall closed. Its something I was really thankful for.
2006-09-10 11:48:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I favor the pay as you go plans. After having bought two cells I found that the best to have are the flip phone. No problems having them call someone while in a pocket or backpack. It might also be helpful to use text messaging with a vibrate. The young person cannot get in trouble during school.
2006-09-18 07:24:34 · answer #7 · answered by todaysvicechocolate 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am 14 and i have had a cell phone for a year..Try it out and if the bill is to high get it cut off..dont get boost it is a waste of money.
2006-09-16 13:18:32 · answer #8 · answered by Mary Beth W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, unless she has a job i'd get an alltel because boost mobile is a prepaid phone
2006-09-18 07:54:23 · answer #9 · answered by Mark 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have Three of my kids on boost and its was great until boost changed the plans. Now if some one walkie talkie you and you pickup or not they will charge you a dollar a day. On the weekend we don't use our phones and some one walkie talkied the wrong number. There goes a dollar down the drain
2006-09-17 12:32:56 · answer #10 · answered by Lynne D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋