How old is old enough...?

Question

to own a cell phone? I'd like to hear what some parents think, because there seem to be a large number of fourth-graders (9 years old!!) who own regular, real cell phones, and my daughter, who is 8, wants one, too. What's up with this? How old would your child have to be to own a cell phone?

Let me clarify: I have already forbidden this for my daugther, and so has my ex-husband. I'm just wondering what would possess a parent to offer a cell phone to such a young child.

Answer 1

My OLDER (16 and 14 yr olds) children each got one! My ex-husband did this to BUY their love...cause all they wanted was a cell phone...THat was when they were 14 and 12! Way TOO young in my opinion!! 8 yrs old?! TOO young!! At that age they are still "babies"! My daughter (my oldest) is the worst butter fingered kid...she drops that phone at least a dozen times a day! My son..will put it down and forget where he left it...for days!! Now he wants them to be responsible for the bill?! He's a F-ing NUT job!!! His step daughter has one too and she's only 10...STILL too young!!! I didn't get my FIRST cell phone until I met my CURRENT (keep him on his toes!) husband over 5 yrs ago!! We live in the city where all you see is kids with cell phones attached at their hands and ears...tech messaging all the time...instead of doing homework, chores etc...I'd wait and tell her MAYBE when she's 12 or older...and that's a BIG maybe!!! and when she asks why?! Use the standard..."cause I said so...that's why!!!" :)

Answer 2

I don't have kids of my own yet but I'm struggling with that same issue. I watch a niece after school more days than not, and she's 10. She's dying for a cell phone.

Of course after her mom said no and her dad said no, she asked me. As if I would get her one after her parents said no!

She says everybody else her age has one. I find that hard to believe but apparently they do! Everywhere I go little kids have cell phones.

Finally we agreed that when she's 11, which is nearly a year away since she just turned 10, she can have a Firefly. Those are the phones that can only call like 5 numbers ... mom, dad, home, 911, and someone else that you program in.

She'll have to be happy with the Firefly until she's 14, because her mom just decided that's the minimum age she'd get her a cell phone. And even then I doubt she'll be allowed to keep it all day and all night ... probably just when she's out at the mall or something.

I can't fathom giving an 8-year-old a cell phone.

The youngest I have seen was FOUR! The woman across the street who's on welfare and gets disability for all the kids and Medicaid and who knows what got her FOUR-YEAR-OLD a cell phone. Ugh.

Answer 3

there would be no reason to get a child that young a cell phone unless they lived out of the calling area or just moved and their number is long distance for them to call their parents. This happened to a student of mine because their parents cell was still from their old area and hadn't changed it yet. That would only be a reason and the phone would be like a Firefly or the new disney child friendly phone that can ONLY contact parents and family. But there is no reason to get your child a phone until they hit Middle or High school. Even then get them a pre-paid phone. That YOU control their talk time and how much you spend on it. Plus if they use up all there talk time before its time you can not pay for the time needed for the phone until they learn to be responsible. This is what me and my husband plan on doing for my oldest daughter and a lot of parents I know have done. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I really haven't thought of this issue yet so your question really hit a nerve. I think 14 to 16 year old would be time to get a cell phone, depending on maturity of the child. An 8 year old could have a cell phone to call programed numbers by their parents though.

Answer 5

My cousin got a cell phone to her children. They bursted the phone bill. She gave them because they insisted that they needed when they go out with friends to shopping and the parents can't reach them. Another reason from the kids, it was the unattention from the teachers and authorities at school. They could call the parents for any emergency.

Of course, after they got the cell phones appeared a lot of reason to text messages and calls...
My cousin went crazy and confiscated all the cell phone when she got the mobile bill.

Answer 6

I think that kids should get a cell phone when they are old enough and responsible enough to pay for it...if they are on a school activity or going out of town let them borrow the parents? Mine are fairly young (2 & 8months) and I have custody of my 9yr old sister now and she said kids in her class have a cell phone...and I asked her why they have it and she said just to call people...I don't agree with it..they do have new plans where the parent can pick the hours and minutes their kids are allowed to use/talk on the phone..which is kinda neat?

Answer 7

I have thought about getting my 11 yr. old son that cell phone that only calls emergency and four other programmed numbers. He walks home with his 3 little brothers from school. Those numbers would be contact numbers to us. And it will be free for him to call because we all have the same cell carrier. No text messaging is possible. I think it is insane for a child to have a cell just to talk to their school friends. They can use the home phone....children needs supervised!

Answer 8

I think that once they start the junior high. *8th or 9th grade* Then that is old enough to start having a cell phone. I'm in 8th grade and I don't have a cell phone. I have a trac fone and I have to buy all the minutes for it. It's kind of like having a real cell phone without the hassle or bills.

Answer 9

My granddaughter who I am raising by myself, my husband passed away this past may.She has asked for one this year. Her mom, who lives 2000 miles away and her dad who lives 600miles away, both think that maybe she could have a pre-paid one. She will have to work for the minutes. I sort of agree,but for different reasons..emergencies and so I can always connect with her. BUT she has a problem with responsibilities, she is forever leaving coats, shoes ,keys --what have you -at her friends houses, this could be a huge factor.She'll be 9 in Jan. But when I can't be there to pick her up , it would be comforting to know I could get in touch with her..so we will give it a chance--once. If she breaks or loses it,she'll have to earn it back by proving she can be responsible--a lot to ask of a soon to be 9yr. old( 9 going on about 25.. she has been through a lot in her short life)Each child's maturity should be factored in as not all are at the same level of development.I know if she really wants it badly enough, she will do just fine.

Answer 10

let me say it this way
with the problems in today's society, and even at school or on their way home, they NEED a cell phone, but it be limited to emergency purposes only, UNLESS you get the type of cell phone that lets you talk to the SAME service provider for FREE, then you give then a certain amount of time after school and on the weekends, and make them keep to this,this way, if anything ever happens they cal call either 911 or you instantly from their own cell phones, and it will make them more responsible by adhering to your rules about the usage of them..
into today's society it is a necessity not a luxury..believe me you will see it my way once you think about some stranger, STRANGE type guy going after them and all the have to do is use their cell phone for help..think about it...
even if they have it off and they have it to their ear, a molester will go right by them because he will not want to get caught..and a lot of young girls do just his walking home....safety first..PLEASE

good luck
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