When should be the best time to get my child a cell phone and how do I know he will be responsible enough to have one?
2006-10-13 11:17:40 · 17 answers · asked by Jennifer S 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
My oldest got hers when she was 12 added on to my plan and it raised my bill $10 a month, but she has always been very responsible and knew if she abused it she would loose it. Cingulair has free mobile to mobile so rarely does she ever even use minutes but now that she is almost 15 I feel safer knowing she has a way to reach me ( by the way she just got her 2nd phone and nothing was wrong with the 1st it was just time for an upgrade) This fall I also added a firefly phone onto our plan for my 7&8 year old to share. They take it with them when they go to see their dad or to scout outings. The phone is preprogrammed and can only hold four numbers so they can't call any number that isn't in the phone. There is no right age to get a kid a phone it is time to get them a phone when they have activities going on so they can contact you and when they are responsible enough to use it with care.
2006-10-13 11:34:50 · answer #1 · answered by Martha S 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the only reason why a kid needs to have a cell phone is for you to get a hold of them when need be or for them to call you if they're gonna be late and so on. Not for chatting it up with their friends. If you really want to get your child a cell phone I suggest you get one of those prepaid ones and give them a certain amount of minutes of month for emergencies that you pay and then tell them that if they want to talk to their friends and have more minutes that have to earn the money to buy the phone cards themselves. That will teach them the responsiblity of not going over minutes. It is so easy for a kid to totally ignore their minutes when they never see the bill and you will flip when you recieve a $500 cell phone bill in the mail. I learned the hard way when I got my first cell phone after I moved out of the house. Teach the lesson to them now.
2006-10-13 11:44:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Buy them a prepaid to start off with. Like a Boost Mobile, or some such phone. Give them a single prepaid card, under the stipulation that it's their phone but they have to make sure they save minutes for emergencies. If they run out of minutes they're responsible for buying the next card.
I got my first cell phone when I was thirteen. It was added to my parents' plan under the strict rules that it was for emergencies, or for when I go out. I didn't start to go over my minutes until I hit 16-17, and by then I was working and I got my own plan.
2006-10-13 12:14:06 · answer #3 · answered by Kennedy 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say that if you child walks to and from school, or participates in an afterschool activity that it would be a good idea to get them a cell phone. I would go for the prepaid kind and make it known that it is strictly for the purpose of contacing you for rides or emergency. Go with that for a year or so and see if he/she is able to do that responsibly.
2006-10-13 11:21:35 · answer #4 · answered by Amy C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I got both of my children cell phones when they started driving. However the stipulation was... if they went over their allotted minutes, they they had to pay me back. If they didn't have a job, then they were grounded for 2 weekends and the cell phone stayed in my possession. I only wanted them to have cell phones for their safety. Since I could not afford to buy them super nice cars for them to drive back and forth to school, I was afraid that something might happen with the car and they would be stranded. Only once did I have to ground my daughter and you would have thought her world was going to end. Obviously my son learned a lesson from his sister because he never even came close to going over his allotment. Good luck.
2006-10-13 11:56:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
A child does not need a cell phone.
2006-10-13 14:12:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I got my 1st one when I was 14, that was 4 years back.
I'm now 18 and on number 3, it all depends on how much trust you have in him or her so sorry I cant give you an exact age as I dont know you or your child.
Mitch
2006-10-13 11:20:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never. Are you crazy? Maybe a two way phone that only contacts you.
2006-10-13 11:24:45 · answer #8 · answered by Super Cleat 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
when they're 30. Kidding, I gues it depends on your area and how much extracurricular activity your kid is into. Don't get one because they want it, for sure, only if it's a necessity; like when they start driving.
2006-10-13 11:24:22 · answer #9 · answered by island girl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
at about 10, so you can communicate with him or her
2006-10-13 11:34:49 · answer #10 · answered by acid tongue 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋