Should my child be able to have a cell phone.?

Question

my child is a mature 7th grader and has many friends do you think he should have a cell phone.

Answer 1

If they can financially support the bill then YES, otherwise NO. That's just my opinion.

Answer 2

My son is a very mature 7 year old not 7th grader and he has a cell phone with stored emergency numbers only! He's the coolest kid in his class. So as long as your child is mature and responsible then yes, he should get a cell phone. Make sure you have a good family plan and or you can just get the phone that is almost like a calling card.

Answer 3

This will make me sound like a curmudgeon, but....I don't think children should have cell phones at all, let alone use them at school. Whatever happened to, you know, TALKING to your friends face to face? Cell phones are an unnecessary expense, and the kid is potentially going to break and/or lose the dang thing anyway. When they're small they won't need the phone, and when they are old enough to be in a situation where they need a phone, they can either 1) buy their own and pay their own bills, 2) borrow mom or dad's cell if they need it. or 3) use a payphone. They also don't need to be texting. I hate texting. I can't stand the horrible spelling and nonexistent grammar...too many young people carry that over into a lot of their writing. I also don't like the fact that so many of them get into sexting. It's so easy to not get caught. Why give them an avenue to do such a thing?

Answer 4

no. My bro is also in 7th and has a phone. all he does is txt msg like crazy during class and never pays attention. I mean its the peeps he's with all day he's txting he acts like they are on the other side of the planet. He runs up the bill and just shrugs his shoulder and says "so" I convinced my parents to cut off his line and no phone no matter how much he begs and cries. He will never understand that he does not need a phone at this age. I would like to give you an advice, if I may. Wait till his old enough and has a job, make him responsible for paying his bill, let him feel the responsibilty of having to pay, and if he is mature like you say he is then he will understand.

Answer 5

I don't think it's a bad idea. My sister and I got our first cell phone when I was in 7th grade (we had to share,) and that worked well for me because it's not like I was going all over the place. I got my own phone in 8th grade when I started hanging out at friends houses, the mall, etc., and it was a huge convienence.

You can get phones pretty cheap when you're first signing up - many actually end up free with all of the special rebates and deals.


Hope all goes well! Happy Holidays.

Answer 6

Until the skull is fully developed you risk being responsible for your child getting brain cancer from increased level of radiation going right through the bone, and when old enough to drive, the death of your child by vehicular collision.

That's just the beginning. I've done extensive research on cell phone safety, and even though I'm relatively young myself I suggest you leave it up to your son to buy his own cell phone as well as pay for its fees, monthly plan or minute-by-minute costs, and give him alternative incentives to not buy or use cell phones.

Mental maturity should be the very least of your concerns. Your son's life and future truly is at stake.

Answer 7

My personal opinion is..... no. Cell phones were not common place when I was that age (I'm 24 now), so I've just never seen the "necessity". I had lots of friends and participated in many different extracurricular activities. I never had the need for a cell phone. We still don't have cell phones and we haven't shriveled up and died yet. lol

(The 'cool' gadget when I was in middle/high school was a pager. lol I don't think anyone uses those anymore.)

Answer 8

Get him a track phone and see how she is with that. Then in a year or two (if all goes well with the track phone) get her a cell phone. I would have loved a track phone in 7th grade. I'm a 9th grader and don't even have a phone so tell her shes lucky if you do get her one.

Answer 9

I got a cell phone when I was in 7th grade and I had a basic calling plan attached onto my parents plan. All I could do was call and it was great.

If your child wants to text or access the internet, have him pay the monthly fee. I currently pay for a $20 plan from AT&T and it gets me 200 text messages and unlimited internet. If you get him everything unlimited and you pay for it, he probobally wont appreciate the phone very much.

You shouldn't get him the phone if he doesn't need it. Get him one if he does a lot of sports or is out and about a whole lot and you need to get in touch with him consistently...

'Hope I helped...

~Travis

Answer 10

I'll get all kinds of thumbs down for this , but here goes...

We survived without cell-phones back in my day.We also got our Walkmans confiscated if we had them in class.Our parents told us that they had no place in school.They , after all , didn't have juke-boxes in the lunchroom.

Each generation has new technology available to them , and as a consequence the next generation of parents has a new set of choices.
The question , however , is still basically the same.
Is your kid responsible enough to be trusted with something that can be a distraction from their daily responsibilities?

That's a question only YOU , the parent , can answer.

Answer 11

Mine is in 7th and I gave in to a cell phone on the basis she is mature enough to use it and if irresponsible about it, it will be taken away.

I remind her the phone is mine for her use- I have the right to revoke her cell phone privliges if she is getting distracted from her other responsibilities.

But i feel better when she is out and about, I can locate her and she can always call for help when she needs us