2006-11-10 07:03:01 · 46 answers · asked by mamaap04 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
That depends on the maturity level of your child. Also, how many outside activities he or she has when they are away from you. My daughter got one when she turned 11. Because... she is on swim and dive teams, in karate, cheerleading and goes ice skating. Those are only to mention a few. For my piece of mind, more that her constant nagging, (smiling here), anyway, my piece of mind, I knew that she would have a way to call and I would know she was safe. If she needed to come home earlier because God forbid, she got hurt, she could call. If they closed early, she could call. etc. It is only to be used in an emergeny, and she has to pay half of the bill from her allowance. that way, she is learning about responsibilites. I did get the extra insurance on the phone (like 3.99 a month extra) to ensure that if something happened to it, or got lost or stolen, it would be replaced at no extra charge to me. You may want to get that on your childs. Good luck to you, and let us know how it turns out.
2006-11-10 08:38:03 · answer #1 · answered by C B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty conservative so I say yes. It is too young. A 10 year old should know how to ask an adult if he/she can use the phone at the business where he or she is or know how to call collect if there is a pay phone around. ALSO a 10 year old should always be in the presence of an adult. Most adults have cells.
2006-11-10 07:08:09 · answer #2 · answered by momoftwo 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Most 10-year-olds will lose house keys, how could you expect them to keep track of such an expensive piece of technology (relative to a 10-year-old's piggy-bank). It's a flashy item that could easily cause problems/jealousy with classmates or even stolen from school.
10-years-old is too young for that responsibility, why not teach them about always keeping a quarter on their person if they need to make a phone call.
2006-11-10 08:45:16 · answer #3 · answered by RosieD 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think so, BUT IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO GET YOU 10 YEAR OLD A PHONE, CONSIDER THIS... There are several companies that offer cell phones designed for children (Disney, Firefly) and allow a gaurdian to have a great deal of control over who they can call and how long they can talk. This should be important.
2006-11-10 07:16:32 · answer #4 · answered by Hank 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I believe that it just kind of depends on how you handle it. I believe that having a family that is able to be in constant contact with each other is good. Get a family plan (like the new disney one) where you can monitor there usage and then you can also see where they are at all times and say how many minutes they get per month. i think that is a good thing for children to have the responsiblity and also for you to be able to just call them up and say what youneed to say, we are all so busy these days, so we do need that life line with each other.
If you limit the minutes to 10 min per year of life for the child until they are like 15 or so, then I think that its fine so for a 10 year old they get 100 minutes a month or something of that nature. They dont need to be calling their friends at all hours of the day, it just more so needs to be away of making sure you can get ahold of them or if a crisis, godforbid, emerges then you get to them asap. But thats jsut my opinion, every family has to make there own dicision.
2006-11-10 07:18:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a tricky question sometimes I would love for my 8 year old to have a cell and at other times not. For instance we live on a large piece of wooded property and she can't always hear me when I yell for her so I call her. On another note she calls me when she is in the other room. So maybe a cell is needed only at times.
2006-11-10 07:34:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
generally yes. cell phones can be costly, and the bill for the calls can be even worse. i'd imagine that a 10 is around adults all the time, and has access to a phone if they need it. if the 10 yr ISNT around adults, i dont think the problem is needing a phone, it might be needing more supervision.
there are more important things to do at 10 than talk on the phone in my opnion.
2006-11-10 07:12:49 · answer #7 · answered by hellion210 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In my opinion, yes. Kids are at school all day and if an emergency arises, the can use the office phone. Otherwise, 10 year olds are typically at a friend's house, and again, there is a phone there. I would wait until at least 13, but that even seems young to me.
2006-11-10 07:06:47 · answer #8 · answered by bmbg2577 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
My little sister has one and shes 11 she is responsible with it and only uses it when she needs it. After she realizes how short her mins are in the beginning, how fast the mins run out, she learned how to save them for important calls only. Maybe not all kids are as smart as my sister is so I guess its depending on your childs maturity and depending on the childs responsibility.
I believe a cell phone can save your child's life. How many kids do u think could have been rescued from being kidnapped if they had a phone on them? Maybe have it set up to where he can only call certain numbers like you and another family member only? And I DO KNOW is that you can have it set up to to where he only has access to call 911 and I believe this service is free. If he ends up pranking the police and they come to the house and have a talk with him abt that I can pretty much promise you he will learn quickly not to prank them again. ;)
2006-11-10 07:17:54 · answer #9 · answered by melissa 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why does a 10 year old need a cell phone?
2006-11-10 07:06:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 2⤋