I got my daughter a cell phone for EMERGANCIES ONLY. I told her to put 2 really good friends on her speed dial incase I couldn't be reached and she needed a friends' parent's help.
She's had it for 2 years and has been VERY responsible about it. Today came her phone bill and it showed that she used all of her minutes (something she's never done) and has texted everyday. The bill was about $1000! Usually it's only $150!She called her friends for fun.
I took away her cell phone and have been thinking of getting her Disney Mobile so I could track her calls and set times when she can call.
Should I get her it? Or should I just get rid of the cell phone for ever? HELP!
2007-12-22 04:56:40 · 17 answers · asked by Dina 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
She is 12.
2007-12-22 05:02:06 · update #1
Well, between the beer cans you said you found and now the phone, I'd be taking away everything of value that she owns, grounding her for a LONG, LONG time and she'd be doing a LOT of chores to make up for it all.
Sounds like she's heading out of control quickly. I hope you can help her.
2007-12-22 05:49:10 · answer #1 · answered by pinkpiglet126 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
how can she get up to $150 in a typical month just for "emergency" calls? i'd take away the phone altogether -- not "forever" but for a good long time (how about till high school at least?). if she really needs to be able to call you in emergencies (isn't a 12 year old usually still under adult supervision? -- if she takes public transportation or has a serious medical condition or something, sure, keep a phone for emergencies, otherwise ditch it), get her one of those phones that just calls parents' home and cell numbers and 911. there's no reason whatsoever why she needs to be calling friends at all, except possibly from your home land-line phone (with your permission).
have her do extra chores and/or dock her allowance to make up for part of the bill. obviously a 12-year-old isn't going to be able to pay off $1000, but I'd make sure she was doing a lot to offset her mistake.
2007-12-22 14:33:19 · answer #2 · answered by ... 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why do people keep insisting on giving their kids cell phones?? You didn't have a cell when you were a kid and I am assuming you turned out alright. Take the phone away, make her work off the $1000 and tell her that when she gets a job she can pay for her own cell phone!
2007-12-22 16:37:36 · answer #3 · answered by elloel 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
take the phone away. make a list of things that she can do around the house to pay off the bill. that way if you do give the phone back she will realize how hard you have to work just to pay the bill.
some examples of chores could be
vaccum the whole house 3x a week
Mop the kitchen and bathrooms 2x a week
Do dinner dishes all week
clean her room 3x a week
help make dinner 2x a week
dust 2x a week
after she does all these chores she will think twice about running the bill that high.
2007-12-22 13:44:56 · answer #4 · answered by favorite_aunt24 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is no logical reason a 12 yr old needs a cellphone b/c at 12 she should always be in a supervised place which would have a working telephone or a pay phone. Chuck the phone. Make her work off the bill. And teach her to carry phone change.
2007-12-22 13:35:29 · answer #5 · answered by billie b 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
12 year olds don't need phones. Just get rid of the phone. She was irresponsible with it so she should face the consequences. It's only fair. If and when she does get another phone buy a prepaid one and make her pay for the phone cards by doing chores around the house or something.
2007-12-22 22:03:21 · answer #6 · answered by fαℓℓ ιи ¢нσ¢σℓαтє(: 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As far as I know Disney mobile is going under or has gone under.
That said, take the darn phone away or get one of the tracphones with prepaid minutes. When she uses up her time she needs to either buy more time herself of deal with it until the next month. I still don't get why kids need cellphones though.
2007-12-22 16:07:26 · answer #7 · answered by fittobedyed 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You made her that way, by permitting her to have an average of $150 phone bills. You want her to have a phone for emergencies, and you want her to fit in also. If you like spending oney that way, it is all up to you. A lot of people spend money that way. Saving money or investing for her future could be an option. But you may want her to be social instead.
2007-12-22 15:04:35 · answer #8 · answered by heartsarebad 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why would you take one phone away and then turn around and get her another one? Obviously she is not mature enough to handle having a phone. She doesn't deserve one until she can pay for the phone and the plan herself. She shouldn't have had one in the first place.
2007-12-23 07:17:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Get rid of the cell phone for good....at least for a year or so.
2007-12-22 13:11:36 · answer #10 · answered by Jen F 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋