My six year old wants a cell phone?

Question

I laughed in his face. How old is old enough for a their own phone?

Answer 1

6 years old?! He is in like, 1st grade! That is definitely not old enough, because it is not necessary at all. Tell him to wait for about 10 years.

Answer 2

Six years old is too young for a cell phone, even if it's a kids cell phone (the kind that only has three buttons that the parent can program) or a Disney cell phone (which gives the parents computer control). The average age in the United States when a child receives their first cell phone is 8 years old. To me, this age is still too young. They expect that age to drop as low as 5 years old by the end of 2007. To me, that's just WRONG in so many ways. When a child is that young, there needs to be parental control. The parent needs to know who the child is talking to, know the child's friends, know where the child is hanging out before and after school, and know who the child is with. I don't think that any six year old needs to talk to anyone importantly enough to need a cell phone of their own. In fact, I don't think that any child in elementary school needs to have a cell phone of their own.

When a child reaches middle school (6th grade) I think there is a need for a cell phone this day and age. But at the same time, I think that there should still be parental control. The parents should know who the child is talking too, control when the phone can and cannot be used, and make it perfectly clear that a cell phone is a privilege and not a right that can be taken away if it is used improperly. Middle School poses all sorts of situations where a cell phone could be handy for a child. From school shootings and the need to dial 9-1-1 to having a way to call home if plans change, I definately think kids in middle school and high school should have cell phones this day and age.

Unfortunately too many parents hand their child a cell phone, and pay the bill until their child gets his/her first job. A child should begin learning from the very start that a cell phone is a privilege and it costs money to have a cell phone. Whether it's giving up an allowance, helping out around the house with chores he/she might not otherwise do, or some other way of raising the money, the child from the very start should be responsible for helping to pay for his/her cell phone.

In addition to the financial aspect of a cell phone. There is a maturity aspect to owning a cell phone. Is your child mentally capable of handling a cell phone? Does he/she know when it's appropriate to use a cell phone and when it's inappropriate? Does he/she know what numbers are okay to call and what numbers are not okay to call (don't call 9-1-1 when it's not an emergency, don't call 900 numbers, etc)?

Last, but certainly not least, the main reason why I can see a 6 year old not needing a cell phone is that at 6 years old, you are too young to be anywhere alone. If the child is with someone, and absolutely had to make a call he could use mom or dad's cell phone, a payphone, an office phone, whatever, but absolutely does not need his or her own cell phone.

Answer 3

I think that the right time for someone to have a cell phone would be no sooner than 13. No child should have a use for one before then. 13 is when they begin to mature and develop friends and lifestyles. Don't spoil the child by getting a six year old a cell phone. Then they just want more because they know they can get it. A child can have a cell phone when they are mature and actually have a purpose for a cell phone. Most just want them because "everyone else does."

Answer 4

I doubt the 11 12 months previous became utilizing a mastercard. A mastercard is a monetary settlement, and an 11 12 months previous won't be able to enter right into a monetary settlement. even if it became of their moms and dads call, the be sure may should be there to signal and tutor identity. It became maximum probable some thing like a Visa present playing cards. both my toddlers get them for birthdays and xmas. it truly is a astounding way for them to work out the bounds their funds is going and teaches them monetary responsibility. they can't bypass over the decrease of the cardboard and so that they ought to devise how they are going to spend it. related to cellphones. My youngest were given between the be sure/911 in common words telephones at 8 because her dad and that i had joint custody, and stay about 40 miles for an further. It helped her sense extra perfect if she had to search for suggestion from from the different be sure if she had to. She's getting her first 'actual' cellular telephone next week. it really is were given an MP3 participant, so as it really is what she is extra fascinated in, than the phone area. As for a 6 12 months previous? i visit't imagine any time at the same time as a 6 12 months might want to no longer be lower than the direct supervision of an individual, so needing a telephone that youthful, is slightly ludicrous.

Answer 5

Wow! You are a great parent! Seriously I would have laughed too. When would a six yr old really be able to use a cell phone?Not at school, I'm a teacher and I have a hard enough time keeping their attention! Thank you for parenting.

I think middle school maybe for safety reasons and its a "pay as you go" phone to teach responsibility...High school is if anything the only time I ever needed to get a hold of my parents and friends.

Answer 6

i got my daughter who is 6 a cell phone. she is now in first grade and we got it for her in the beginning of first grade. there are all kinds of wackos out there and all the school shootings, wouldn't you want to talk to your child in what may be their final moments??? know if he or she is ok??? calm them down in an emergency??? get a call from them on the bus saying they forgot their lunch money instead of waiting until lunch and having to run food in??
i got my daughter a fire fly phone, it only allows calls to and from the numbers that are in the phone book that YOU would program in. it has two buttons one for mom and one for dad. we have my friend julie in, mom cell, dad cell, home, and the preset emergency number in the phone. it took my six year old the first three or so days and we practiced using it those days. now she is an old pro. we have a cingular plan and the phone was free and it's an additional 9.99 a month plus taxes. i know when my daughter is ready to come home from my friend's house, when she is on the bus coming home, and i even knew that she wasn't the one in the accident when someone hit a school bus and it sent three kids to the hospital. i knew a half hour before anyone else, with the exception of those on the bus. the people at the school knew, but i couldn't get through to them because all the frantic parents were calling in. my six year old will be seven in january and she is more responsible with it than you could ever imagine. that is just my opinion and you are totally entitled to yours but i think if you actually laughed in his face, that's sad. to answer your question for what age is a good age, only you know that answer.

Answer 7

2

Answer 8

Actually, you do a valid concern - They do make cell phones just for kids - it only has 3 buttons, a "Mom" button, a "Dad" button, and an "Emergency" button (which can be deactivated by you I think). One is made by Disney, and the other is made by Cingular - they sell both phones at Target (among other places). You can get him one of those (I believe it's prepaid or something). Also, you can get him a prepaid phone so when he uses all his minutes he will learn the responsibility of how cell phones work..but if you want to wait. I think 8 will be ok

Answer 9

I'd say six is to young for a little boy to have a cell phone. But I'd say the youngest age for a child to have a cell is as early as 10.

Answer 10

I would say 16 or 17, still they dont need to have them stuck to their ears like a walky talky! Uses of cell phones are a lil much now days! I would laugh if my daughter who is 6 asked for one to!