Should I or not?

Question

My 11 year old ( 12 in Nov ) wants a cell phone soooooo bad that's all she talks about. She's a good kid, gets strait A's ( 7th grade) does chores, helps with sibligs and makes good choices. Should I get her one for her birthday, or is she too young? My husband and I go back and forth on this matter and we just can't decide. Do your kids have one? How old are they?

Answer 1

you could try the Disney phone and that way you can decide how many minutes and when she can use it, there are lots of options for cell phones today, it might help her in ways of managing her minutes. and let her know that in order to get more min. she will have to do more chorse around the house, your kid sounds like shes a really good, why not let her have more responsibility... good luck

Answer 2

She probably wants one because all her friends have one, kinda like all the girls used to have to get bras at the same time. I would typically say no, too young, what does she need it for. But it sounds like you have a really good kid who deserves to be rewarded for that. If she is as good as you say, and you have no reason to think she would get into trouble with a phone, then reward her positive behavior and advise you expect to see it continue or the phone goes back. The Disney phones seem to be a really good alternative too. Try to resist checking her location all the time though, that part is kinda creepy & invasive.

Answer 3

i dont think kids need a cell phone until they are old enough to have a job and pay for it. i dont really see the purpose of them having one, a lot of parents get one for their child so that they can keep track of them, but to me that is too lenient and lazy of parents. when i was young my mom had to know where i was at all times, if i was at a friends house, she had their phone number. giving kids a cell phone gives them more freedom and they will get away with a lot more because it is so easy to lie where you are when you have a cell phone, but if you call someones house, you know for sure that is where they are. and let me tell you another thing, i was a really good kid in my moms eyes, i had straight As, i did all my chores, but there were a lot of things that she didnt know once i got a cell phone when i was 16. i would make your daughter wait.

Answer 4

My daughter has a phone that has no numbers except 1,2,3,4 & Emergency. I have programed (she doesn't know the code)my, my husband's, my mothers, and her grandparents phone numbers in to the phone. She cannot make any calls to anyone nor does she know her number so others can't call her. We have made it clear that it's only for emergencies or if she needs to speak with us. The difference here is that she's 9 and in 4th grade and I wanted her to be able to get in touch with me while she was a summer daycare, or on a GS outing, or her grandparents...things like that....However, I would have loved to get the Dsney Mobile if it was around when I had gotten her a phone.

Answer 5

Just get her one of those disney phones that can monitor how many minutes she uses, where she is (GPS enabled), who she calls, etc. That way, you have control, but she feels like she's cool at the same time. I only agree with young children having cell phones because I would feel safer with my daughter walking down the street with a cell phone in hand, just make sure she can't abuse the privelage.

Answer 6

Well I am a single mom, who needs to know where my child is at all times. My daughter got one in the early 5th grade. She is a 91.6 averaged student, and is very responsible. Ummm, we have Verizon Wirless with 2 phone lines ( me and hers ). We speak to each other for free, and what else is better than being am mom who is only a dial tone away. My daughter has just began 7th grade on Sept. 5 and this cellphone has not affected her at all. She speaks to loved ones, friends, and anyone who has her phone #. By the way, my daughter has a real cellphone. It is really handy for emergencies. And please don't get your daughter a pre paid phone. I wish you all the best.

Answer 7

i got my first cell phone when i was like 8 or 9ish or something 4 safty ressons so that my parents could always know were i was i think u should get ur kid one i mean she is in the 7th grade and most kids have one around that age just make sure she dosnt start calling ppl 24/7

Answer 8

look it all depends on the child i wasnt able to talk on the phone until i turned 18 and thats becouse i was of legal age to leave my house! and i did good in school and did my chores i think if your children are doing good with u you should reward them if not then punish or take away things they like but in this case u should remember especially in a girl u want to be her best freind not just any adult u need to show her she can be trusted and show her u can trust her and they are also good for if she is stranded one day

Answer 9

In my family, we got cells around 13 yrs. to use for our parents to get in touch with us or vice versa, and for emergencies. I don't think its a terrible idea. Some cell phone companies offer phone specifically designed for younger children. You can pre-program phone numbers for parents and emergencies, you can only call the preprogrammed numbers. Some of them will allow incoming calls.

Answer 10

Sounds like me! I got one in grade 7, age 12. I use it to call home to tell my parents what I'm doing after school. It is really a matter of whether or not you trust her with it.