is 10 an acceptable age for a child to have a cell phone? (details inside)?

Question

what would you think about a ten year old having a cell phone under these circumstances:

•Homeschooled yet socially active (so will be away from home more frequently)

•responsible

•ties up home phone line quite often

I need serious answers only please! if you are going to hate on me or call me crazy, just back off and leave me alone.

plus my GIRL has been driving me up a wall trying to convince me she needs one. she's actually come up with some pretty good reasons =D

oh, and rock_and_roll_granny, i said "if you are going to hate on me or tell me i'm crazy then back off and leave me alone" i did not say "i want honest answers" i told haters to back off! haters like u!

Answer 1

They make those emergency phones that have one button... you can program the number it calls. I would say that's okay.

Giving a 10 year old an actual cell phone may be risky business... I would monitor it closely.

Answer 2

In my personal opinion, absolutely not. No matter how responsible a child may be, a child is still a child. Now, when he/she is 16 or 17 and going out with friends or whatnot...that is more appropriate grounds for having a cell phone. I would hope 10 year olds are not out all night with their friends. If this 10 year old ties up the housephone often, that is a very reliable display as to how much worse it will be once the child is given a cell phone. Cell phones are very expensive and allows a lot more independence. That isn't always good. My son is almost 4 and he is not getting a cell phone until he can buy it himself and pay the bill every month. A cell phone (just like a driver's license) is a privilege, not a right. For safety purposes, however, I believe it is very helpful to give him/her the brand phone that has only 2 buttons. One for Police, the other for Parents. That's all a 10 year old needs. It will save you a lot of money and there is less opportunity to get in serious trouble with that cell phone. Best of luck.

Answer 3

I see no reason not to. It will be easier for you when it comes time to pick her up from activities. If something gives you reason to worry if she is where she is saying she is. Go there and check on occasion. Thats the only problem with cell phones for any age if you ask me. Its like sure mom Im at Sarahs when they are really not, you know that kinda thing. The call phones kinda give way to the old version of having the kids home numbers and having the parents actually answer. Give her the phone.:) If you have a cell then just add a line to your plan, its a different number, same bill.If you wanna know how many minutes she is using, when shes doingit and who shes calling CHECK IT ONLINE! shewont even know you are checkin up on her and the bill cant get out of hand. What could be safer? She cant call or be called by anyone with out you knowing about it....

Answer 4

No way. If they tie up the home phone, then it means that they will be using WAYYYY too many minutes for anyone to afford. Second, if they are only 10, they will be at friends houses when they are away within walking distance or their parents drive them there so they could just call that house.

I got a cell phone when i got my driver's license for safety reasons such as if i got a flat tire or ran out of gas, plus I spent a lot more time in the car, especially when my friends have cars too and thats where we spent most of our time. If they are going to a mall and someone needs to contact them though, there are pay phones OR have them borrow a family member's cell for the few hours. Thats what we always did. There is NO reason a 10 year old needs a cell phone. (this is coming from a very active person in school, etc, and didnt need one myself)

Answer 5

I have a ten year old and there's no way he's mature enough to have a cell phone. First of all, he doesn't know any phone numbers except my cell phone and our home phone. Second of all, he's too young to legally be allowed without adult supervision, so he's somewhere with a grown up all the time. Third of all, his friends all live in our neighborhood, so he doesn't need to call them, he can just walk down the street. And last, he's very irresponsible with things like that, it would be lost, stolen or broken in a matter of days or weeks.

If tying up your landline is a problem, set restrictions and enforce them.

If being away from home and needing to be in contact is a problem, maybe you should be with her or make sure the adult supervising her has a phone and will let her use it.

Answer 6

Im now nearly 17 and I got a cell phone when i was 13 and really not many had one than. I think a cell phone is a bad idea because calls are too expensive to it and you will see people will still call the home phone, only the cell when they are up to no good.

Answer 7

I have seen younger kids than that with cell phones.. just be smart about it. the newer phones seem to be able to require a password to add phone numbers and can even be made to where the kid can only call numbers in the phone's address book without a password. I did that when I originally gave my 13 year old a phone, but then she hardly uses any minutes. So I don't think its necessarily a bad thing.

Answer 8

Both my 9 and 11 year olds have cell phones. however, they do have limits. They are allowed to call one friend per day and then only for 15 minutes. They are allowed to take them when they go to a friends house. They know I can check the usage of the phones. They take them with them when they go to the mall, store, etc in case they get lost, kidnapped, etc. I have never had a problem with the them. They are proving to be very mature about the situation.

Answer 9

Go with a pre-paid phone. You can literaly find them in the gas station. Im thinking of Page Plus in particular. The phones start ay $20 and they come with $14 in minutes. A $10 card will give them 70 minutes. Very good reception and a $25 card should be the max you buy with 200 minutes on it. Make restrictions and increase minutes with age and responsibilities.

Answer 10

If you are able to pay the bills, and you honestly think that it's a NEED and not a WANT, then go for it.

I personally wouldn't give my kids a cel phone. Call me old-fashioned and I sure sound like my parents, but I grew up without a cel phone and I know that my kids can do the same. Cel phones are not cheap, and it really bothers me when I see young people ignoring the world around them and being slaves to their phone.

If you do decide to give your daughter a phone, many of the companies have plans where the phone can only call or receive calls from certain numbers and other parent-minded plans.

Answer 11

My daughter is twelve and she has had a cell phone since she was 11. I got her one because she has to walk to school and I felt a lot better with her calling me when she got there and when she started walking home. I think the scary way people act now-a-days I don't blame you for getting your child a cell. I understand completely. We got our daughter the pre-paid cell that way you don't end up with an enormous bill. But do what you feel you need to do . Good Luck