What do you think about a 7-14 year old having a cell phone?

Question

My daughters dad just bought her one I was so against it because why does a kid need a cell phone? Im a stay at home mom I take her and pick her up from school What can a 7-14 possibly need a phone for just chit chat!!!

My daughter is 12 the reason why I said 7-14 because those are the ages that Ive seen with a cell phone

Her father and I arent together she only sees him every other weekend

Answer 1

Maybe he wants her to be able to call him anytime. Is his number long distance? Do you two parents have a good relationship? Maybe she asked for one and he just bought it not thinking you'd mind.

I wouldn't let my 7 year old have one, maybe by 14 I'd get one of those phones where they can only call Mom, Dad and 911 just in case but younger than that, no way.

This is a firefly phone.
http://www.fireflymobile.com/

Answer 2

Okay I'm 14, I find it a little shocking how many young children and young teens have cells. I being one of them this past year, I actually gave up my phone and I use the payphone now at school to call home because I saw a book about how the radiation from the phone effects young peoples brains. Its a amazing, and very sad. I think that cellphones can be very helpful and useful, and I love them, but they're also very distructive.. Personally I think you should wait. Give your daughter a calling card she can use at school on the payphones (thats what I do), she may look like a dork (aka me) but atleast your saving your brain and think about all those help problems kids are going to have when they're older. I still have to convince my dad to get a pager and my Mom, well I really actually like her having a phone its very helpful. Also, if you have a cellpone (which I agree people should have them) don't give your number out to anyone other than your imidiate family. Use it only in an emergancy!

Good luck!
Karina

Answer 3

13+ yes they are not children and they can get in touch with you if need be at this age they are engaged in many more activities and out with friends. Younger perhaps get the pay as you go type, there have been instances of children and young women dialing 911 after being abducted a way to call for help these days with all the abductions, murders and rapes the more phones out there the better. In fact all old cell phones even if not in service are capable of dialing 911 or the operator in an emergency, many old cell phones are donated to domestic abuse shelters etc. for this purpose. Of course the phone needs a good battery and charged.

Answer 4

A 12 year old does NOT need a cellphone. When a cell phone is absolutely necessary (and those situations should come up about once a year... when is a 12 year old out by herself, no chaperones, no parents?) they can borrow a parent's cell phone for the evening. I'm getting so sick of these kids getting cell phones at ages they should be playing with pretend phones!

Answer 5

I have no problem with the age having cell phones. - my daughters (12&16), niece (10) and nephew(7) all have them. But our cirrcumstances are a case where they need to have them and the 3 oldest have had them a while. All are in activities where the parents can't always be there for running one of the other kids somewhere. They do things afterschool. The 12 year old has hers cause her father's mother (biological) told her she could not call me when she was at their house visiting during the summer.

Everyone has different opinions. Some having is a necessity where others is just to be like their friends. The world has changed so much since many of us were kids.

Answer 6

Both of my children have firefly phones (They can only call the preset numbers I put in..mom dad aunt grandma 911 etc.) They have had them a little over a year. My daughter is 12. My son is 8.

It has come in handy. They can call when at a friends to check in, I can call them to check in, they can call if they miss the bus, call when the bus breaks down (which my son's has twice since Christmas) so I don't worry etc.

The main reason we got it was for when they are done at Church on Wednesday nights they can call for a ride home.

They are both very responsible and keep the phone safe and charged. I really think it depends on the child, and what the phone will be used for.

Our 12 year old has asked for a "regular cell" so she can call her friends, but we denied her request until she is 16 and can pay the bill herself.

Answer 7

I feel that in some cases it is okay. i am a 14 year old nad my cell phone is strictly for buisness. like if i go to a friends house my parents can call me when i need picked up, or if i walk somewhere over the summer when they are not home it is to make sure i am safe and where i said i was going to be. If her phone is simply just to talk on then that is another story, that isnt a very smart idea.

Answer 8

I definitely don't think a 7 year old needs a cell phone... at 14 they are getting closer to needing one.

I would think maybe if the girl was involved in lots of extracuricular activities that didn't have a necessarily set schedule, she MIGHT need a cell phone to call her parent to pick her up. (at the age of 14 or up)

I think at 16 when they start driving, they should have a cell phone in case of emergency and so the parents can call and check on them.

Answer 9

I agree. Unless the child is really into sports and travels without you I don't think a child needs a cell phone until age 14. I refused to buy my kids *I have 4 of them* their cell phones until they are/were 14. I have a 9 yr old who bugs me almost daily to get one and I refuse.
When I did buy the older kids their phones I only got them tracfones. I refuse to have a plan for little people who either abuse the minutes, text 24/7, or use/abuse the phone. With tracfones if they run out of minutes and refuse to "earn" more (chores, etc) then they wait until I have the money to get them more minutes.

Answer 10

I think that children don't need cell phones. Once they are driving, they should have one in case of emergencies. I was driving through my sub-division the other night and a kid about 9 years old was riding his bike in the street and talking on the phone. He was not paying attention to what he was doing and could have easily been hit if a driver was not paying attention or got distracted. I think cell phone use has gotten way out of control.