I promised my nine year old a cell phone this christmas? Is she old enough?

Question

How old do you think a kid should be to have their own cell phone?

Answer 1

thats your personal choice, she is your daughter.
my advice to you would be to buy her a $20 prepaid phone for Christmas and see how responsible she is with it, and they have reloadable cards so she can't go over on the minutes, if she proves to be responsible with that , then you could get her on a cell phone plan. if you get her on a plan now, then you could have a cell phone bill thats outragous. see how responsible she can be with it. she may just surprise you and be extremely responsible with it.

Answer 2

18 ....parental internet is enough. Take her and possibly one of her friends to an event geared towards family instead. I would tell her no given the fact that children-young adults use cell phones and phones to play games these days. This is what she sees on television as well which parents sometimes fail to consider.

There is always parental internet available to her where you can be involved like you should be. She's only nine years old according to your post.

Answer 3

Promises can be broken. You daughter is too young for a cell phone. Wait until she's older, 12 or 13. Or you can always give her a cell which you input 3 or 4 numbers (one is 911) and that's all she can call.

Answer 4

You are the parent, and you know her better than any of us do. I suggest that you make the call. If you feel she is too young, put your foot down and say no. If you feel she is responsible enough, give her one.

I personally didn't get my cell phone until I was fifteen and to me that is really a proper age--but as I said, you should be the one to make the call.

Answer 5

I was about 15 or 16, but now days you have to base it on a need. It is not a bad idea that way she will always be able to contact you, my boyfriends cousin daughter is 5 and she has one. So I guess you need to ask does she need one? I live in New Orleans and to me a younger person with a cell is not such a bad idea.

Answer 6

honestly with how the society is beginning to develop its good for her to have an emergency phone. but be prepared its the text generation. you will NEED unlimited text messaging for her.. 9 is very young. but if she's starting to rack up the bill on your phone than why not? get her some kind of unlimited phone service. DO NOT GET PREPAID you will be sooo sorry if you do.

also.. ask her who all she would talk to? it might free up your house phone at home. or be a total waste of cash. if she talks to enough people ALL the time then sure :]

Answer 7

what does a nine year old need with a cell phone???
I personally feel that we all over indulge our children
a 9 year old is either with you or a babysitter (at least I would hope)
I have told my children not to expect a cell until either
a) they can afford to pay for it or
b) they begin driving and need it for Emergency Purposes ONLY

I have seen kindergarten children with cell phones and scratch my head and wonder WHY???

Answer 8

Good Grief, no! Unless you're willing to be paying outrageously for a youngster to have a new "toy". I feel that my twins will be eligible for a cell phone of their own when they start their first job and are away from home for greater lengths of time. No need to throw away money like that now!

Answer 9

No not old enough. Not until about 12-14 years. Does she carry a purse everywhere she goes now? Does she carry money with her always? Hairbrush, etc.....Does she ever forget things laying around? Nine is too young.

Answer 10

ummm depends but what grade is she in 3rd grade.... I would at least wait until middle school for mine but then again my sons father got him a cell phone and he was in the first grade and 6 at the time so just depends on maturity level I guess