Kids + Cell Phones: What Age Is the Right Age?
Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:09PM EDT
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Speaking of cell phones and kids...
Shaun of Virginia writes: Do you think a 12-year-old 6th grader should have a cell phone? Why? The school doesn't allow them. Who are they going to call that they can't call from a home phone? For me, 16 is the right age for a cell phone, when they are driving and need to call home for help or to report in.
This is the kind of question that does not have one, neat answer. There is no perfect age for a first cell phone. Deciding when to give children cell phones is an individual family choice, and it depends on lots of variables.
Some parents give in to kids' requests for cell phones as cool accessories. Others opt for a family plan because everyone in the family is off in different directions on weekdays; parents want the peace of mind of knowing their children can reach them in a moment's notice if needed, and they can call them, too.
For young children enrolled in after-school programs, or who move between divorced parents' homes, having a phone can be a good idea. For one family, 8 might be the right age; for another, 16.
If you're weighing whether to add cell phones for your kids, here are a few questions to ask:
• How and when will they use the phones? Are the phones for emergency use only or for communicating with friends, too?
• What is the entire monthly cost, including fees, text messaging, photos, ringtone and music downloads? Know what you're getting into as you add a sizeable monthly expense to the family budget.
• Will your child, especially a teenager who is earning money, contribute to the family cell plan?
My oldest is 13 and she doesn't have a cell phone yet. But I've been researching the best cell phone plan for her and our budget. More and more, there are lots of times when she is out and about and we would all feel better if she had a phone so she could reach us easily if needed.
What's the right age for kids to have cell phones in your home?
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Comments on Kids + Cell Phones: What Age Is the Right Age?
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67 Posted by nataliebadalof on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:33PM EDT Report Abuse
im 15 and my cell phone is used for getting in touch with my parents on the weekdays, or calling up my rides. and on the weekends, it's free, so i call up my friends. phones are useful and you should get your kid one when they are in eighth grade. cause otherwise they will have the excuse "well I don't have a phone" when they show up at home at like 3 am. so yeah. bye.
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68 Posted by harmon05@verizon.net on Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:29PM EDT Report Abuse
When I was a kid we didn't have cell phones. What happened to a couple of quarters,a pay phone and call me every 2 hours to check in. Parents should not give their children cell phones because 99% of teenagers are not responsible enough to limit themselves on the phone. There is always the issue of getting robbed for the phone.
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69 Posted by americangirl113@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:52PM EDT Report Abuse
First of all, I think 10 year olds and younger are wayyyyy to young for a cell phone, but 11 and up is a goood age. It also depends on how mature your child is. But 10 is too young.
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70 Posted by tntnead@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:14PM EDT Report Abuse
When our 12 year old daughter decided she wanted to take a babysitting class to earn her own money, we bought our daughter a cell phone for Christmas. At 13, she carries it with her whenever she is sitting or when she's out with friends in case of emergencies and even to church on Sunday mornings to make it easy to keep track of her :). Since we don't have a home phone, this is how we keep in contact with her while she is caring for her younger siblings (10 & 8) and we are at work, the grocery store, etc. She is very responsible, has not lost it in the 8 months she's had it. She also pays her $9.99 out of her allowance or babysitting money. If they aren't willing to pay for their own phone maybe they shouldn't have one. You can always limit what they can and can't do as far as texting, downloads etc. You just need to be as cell phone savvy as your kids.
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71 Posted by dmundt@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:45PM EDT Report Abuse
With new GPS tracking available on cell phones, All kids should have the devices. I feel at ease with my kids having them and they can serve as a usefull tool if something happens to or they get lost. If they are able to, they can call or you can track them to see where they are. There are many more reasons for kids under 16 to have them. I felt compelled to write about this one.
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72 Posted by john2924@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse
For my family,a divorced and remarried one with children from the 1st marriage melded into the new marriage, 14 was the answer. This is when the kids start high school and have real sports and practices. Since the times are always changing, it is a neccessity for the first year of high school. Plus it makes communication easier between the children and parent when there with the other parent.
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73 Posted by mcb555@ameritech.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:13PM EDT Report Abuse
I think it's a family judgement call. My daughter received one for her birthday; she turned 9. Granted I felt that she was too young and the need wasn't there. She shares her minutes off of my husbands bill. He only pays $7 a month for peace of mind. School has started. She is instructed to only use the phone if I am not there to pick her up. Quite frankly I feel that it depends also on the child. She really doesn't use the phone except for when she's sending us a text message which is already included in my husbands plan. Also the phone has parental controls. She can only dial and receive calls from programmed numbers. So if the time were to come that she is calling someone too often or for too long, simply delete the number from the directory or just take the phone away.
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74 Posted by crj642@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:31PM EDT Report Abuse
I think that it depends on the kid, if the kid has a habit of using up the home phone alot for a long period of time, a trac phone would be the best way to go atleast at first, otherwise if you know your kid will be responsible and could possible cover charges because of slip up, with their allowance or a side job, than a a plan would be the way to go, but all kid should have a cell. With how dangerous the streets are getting lately, even in the "safe" states like vermont, it's better and safer for them to have one. Especially for teens.
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75 Posted by davegrau@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:37PM EDT Report Abuse
My son just got my granddaughter a cell phone and she is 11 years old. I honestly think it is ridiculous. I have even voiced my thoughts about them having their priorities straight. I don't see the need for it. His response to me..it allows him to know where she is...my response to him. Do your job as a parent and keep track of your kids. It really isn't that difficult. The younger generation parents have no clue on how to raise kids, which includes spending time with them and knowing everything that they are involved in. In school and out. In my opinion, 16 is a respectable age for some one to obtain a cell phone providing they are not worthless and walking around not focusing on the real goal. Education.
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76 Posted by sinimsdp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:23PM EDT Report Abuse
I'm 23 and I grew up in the information age without a cell phone. I purchased one on my own after starting college. I got a prepaid and it worked fine for emergency use. I think the perfect age for anyone to get a cell phone is when they are able to pay for it on their own. It's a good way to teach responsibility and values.
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77 Posted by luciamz214 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:59PM EDT Report Abuse
I think that kids that are 11 are old enought to get a cell phone.If your child is in trouble it is good for them to be able to reach the parents at all time. Also if the parents want to know where their child is they can get a family plan and locate the sell phone.
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78 Posted by babysuger_loveatfirstsite on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:01PM EDT Report Abuse
i am thinking why not 9 or even 10?
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79 Posted by pookyz@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:16PM EDT Report Abuse
Children should not get cell phones. In my opinion if and 8 year needs a phone to keep in touch, then the parent has let the kid go too far. People have the misconception that a cell phone will keep them safe. Most people get their kid a phone because someone else did and now the kid doesn't want to be left out. I take my daughter every where and do not leave her without adult supervision. I refuse to let a cell phone take place of my own eyes. Teenagers are at a stage where they can have the responsibilty to be on their own, not at 7 or 8.
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80 Posted by jsdorsey2@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:43PM EDT Report Abuse
I forgot to mention that he received his cell phone as a graduation present. He was on a pay as you go plan and he paid for the minutes and he didn't have a problem until he realized that he would have to get to a store to buy minutes every time his minutes were low while he is in college that is. Where he goes to school, the store is not close by and he doesn't drive yet so that would be a problem, so I switched him to my plan. His pay as you go minutes that he had when I switched him over should cover his first two bills. I am glad he has a plan now so we can keep in touch as often as possible.
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81 Posted by kellymerriman@sbcglobal.net on Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:36PM EDT Report Abuse
My husband and I gave a cell phone to our son so we can keep in touch with him and he can call us IF its an EMERGENCY, he is only 7 years old and so far he is doing GREAT with it. It is just a pre-paid tracfone but he is doing fine with it.
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82 Posted by kallhoff@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse
I cosigned an nationwide plan for my 16 yr. old daughter with the normal 2 yr. committment with the agreement that she would maintain a job and pay the bill. That worked for a while, then she stopped working and ran up the bill. Guess who was stuck paying in order to keep his credit record clear. I put the account on suspension, but I still have 4 months left of the min. monthly charge. I would never cosign for a nationwide plan again. A much better route is a tracphone, pay as you go, or a local company that has unlimited calling and when you don't pay the bill you simply get cut off. Signed, Generous and still paying for it.
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83 Posted by markbhayes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:07PM EDT Report Abuse
I provided a cell phone to my 11 year old daughter in 6th grade. We gave it to her as a present. Whatever you decide, Those special phones that can only call 4 numbers are stupid. You pay the exact same monthly fee as an extra line, but are limited to the 4 numbers. The wireless companies will put some limits on a normal phone for no charge. i.e. I dont allow download of ringtones or messaging which can cause charges to add up.
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84 Posted by anne4horses@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:55PM EDT Report Abuse
i believe that kids dont need phones until they are 16, when they can drive. when your kids are out without you, 9 times out of ten they will be within reach of a pay phone or a land-line. when they are 16, they may be driving out late and will not be within reach of a phone, so that is where a cell phone comes in hand. other than that, they are just an expensive way to get in contact with friends
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85 Posted by rayb66 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:30PM EDT Report Abuse
I have a son that is 11 years old. He has had a cell phone since he was 8. It is great and well worth the cost. My wife and I always know where he is and that he can reach us at any time. The way life is these days with all the crazy's running around and the children ending up missing, it is peace of mind. Another thing is, if I had a cell phone when I was his age it would have saved me alot of beatings for comming home late because I was to busy playing and lost track of time.
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66 Posted by zealot222@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse
If you get a cell phone for a child, all they'll do is talk. NON STOP. So if you want your child's attention somewere else at all times go ahead.