Cell phones for kids?

Question

My daughters are 10 and in 5th grade and are begging for cell phones because 80% of their classmates have them. These kids are not "latch key" so is there really a need? Don't get me started on the fake nails they have and the waxed eyebrows.....are all parents doing this these days?

Answer 1

I think you should get her a real phone.  not a kid phone.  she is geting older.  I am in 8 th grade now and I got my first phone at the end of 5 the grade.  you really need a phone durring the school year

Answer 2

if your daughters must have a cell phone then get them the Firefly phone.

With just 5 keys, this phone keeps kids connected to the people who matter most.  Includes lights, sounds, colors, and animation.

Phone Book:  Store up to 20 numbers including dedicated keys for Mom and Dad. PIN protection allows parents to limit incoming and outgoing calls to numbers stored in the phone book.

Keypad:  Unique keypad includes dedicated keys for Mom and Dad.

http://www.fireflymobile.com/store/firef...

Answer 3

Absolutely not! Many kids have a tendancy to exaggerate. I would talk to other parents, more particularly the ones of your daughters friends and see what they say. You may be surprised in what they tell you. The only thing I would consider is, are they at that age yet where you are letting them attend movies or go somewhere without an adult? If not, no big deal, they don't have a need for a cell phone. If so, I would consider getting them something like a firefly phone (at&t have them) or a phone with another service that allows you to restrict their usuage. You can do anything from restricting their minutes to restricting who they call. If you just want them to have it for emergency purposes, I do highly recommend the firefly. There are few buttons on the phone and the parent has the ability to program the numbers that are ok to call, as well as there being an emergency button that dials 911 for them.  

Answer 4

Don't give in - on the 'phones or anything else. We all need to stand firm against the tide of kids growing up much too fast. It's time to put parents back in charge. The exception to this is if they have an exceptional talent or ability (or you would like to nurture one). Spend your money on  lessons, clubs, instruments or equipment. Leave the nasty fake nails and hair to those who have nothing else in their lives.

Answer 5

No, they don't need phones. And if I were to give them phones, the phones would only allow them to call a few numbers: Home, parents, school.

Answer 6

I would personally think of it as a safety issue.  My kids will most likely have cell phones with a few prepaid minutes so they can call me in an emergency.

Answer 7

If YOU think that they need a cell phone, go ahead and get them. If THEY think they need one, then no. I got my oldest a cell phone when he was 10 because he travels with his sports team and may need to contact me ie his bus is running late or did not come at all. His phone plan gives him 200 minutes per month and he has never used more than 10 minutes in any month. You are the one who needs to decide if this is something your kids need, not just want.  

Answer 8

i got my cell phone wen i was in 4rth shes goin into middle scool nxt year so she will relly need it!!!!! plus every kid in middle scool has 1 (not joking) ya my mom lets me wax my eyebrows she said i cud get fake nails but i wud hav to pay for them so ya my mom is pretty low key like ive been dying my hair since i was in 3rd grd so ya i cant even describe my natural hair color i dnt remembr wat kind o brwn it is so ya let them hav cell fones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

NO, hold firm!  Your kids do not need cell phones.  They just want them, and that's completely different.

We held out until our kids were driving, when we felt that they honestly needed them.  Don't believe the "everyone has one" stuff.  And don't give in on the nails, hair, eyebrows if you don't like them!! Yikes, they are only ten; you need to be in charge for at least five more years!

(I did tell my third child, when he begged for the phone, "Sure!  If you can pay for it every month, we'd be more than happy to get it for you!" End of discussion.)

Answer 10

Hi...

Interesting i should see this question because i just talked to my 32 year old son last night.  His daughter is turning 10 and he bought her a portable DVD player with an MP3 player on board so she can watch movies in the car - ?  They don't even travel.  Plus, she has her own DVD player in her bedroom and they have another one in the family area.  

I told my son that he won't have anything left to buy her when she turns 18.  He just laughed.  I don't tell my kids what to do, and if they want to buy extravagant gifts for the child, it's their business... but as it is, she gets everything she wants.  She's a lovely little girl, full of imagination and very bright, but i have seen her at her worst (like the time we were in the store with her mother shopping and she was crying because she couldn't have something? PLEASE!)

I told my own son that if he were a teenager today, he wouldn't have a cell phone unless he had a part time job to pay for it.  I couldn't have afforded the extra bill back then (and wouldn't want to pay one now).

My sister got her son a cell phone when he was 16... and the first bill was $350.  

No thanks.

Answer 11

Most of the kids in my area get cell phones as a "right of passage" for middle school which here starts at 6th grade. While not a necessity, it does give both the kids and the parents some level of reassurance because the middle schoolers often play sports or join schools clubs and stay after.  

It's just important to set some limits on the use of the phone. For us, when our child got his first phone he knew our expectations for when, where, and how often he could use the phone.  

Answer 12

Omg, kids these days are horrible. Don't let them have cell phones because they may just abuse them and waste your money. Furthermore, all those other kids shouldn't even have them, it's stupid how parents nowadays will just give their kids whatever the heck they want

Answer 13

my 10 yr old daughter also want a cell phone. I am considering a Firefly Flyphone. It is aimed at kids her age. They can make calls, text, take pix, everything. BUT...the minutes are prepaid. I thought that I would put minutes on it and then let her earn minutes by doing her chores, keeping her room clean,etc.

Answer 14

Ok let me start by saying that I am a 11 year old girl with my own cell phone. My parents weren't completely on board with it but they finally decided when I was at the point that I was using their phone or my grandma's phone to take to sports or school. Most people say to wait but they are wrong. I would say the best age is around 11 or 12. If you make them wait until they are 15 then they will constantley be asking you. You don't want that with all the stress of being a parent. I got one for my 11 birthday. It was the best gift ever. I actually cried. Also, if your kids are active in sports it is very good. I read some of the answers on this question and they say that kids will use them to communicate with friends and waste minutes. That is true. I use my phone tot alk to my friends all the time. I would advise you that if you do get them phones to go with an unlimited texting plan. I always text my mom if school is ending early or someplace that I'm not allowed to talk. I also noticed that they were saying to go with a FireFly which I highly disagree with. My best friend got a FireFly and she can't even call me. It makes both of us mad. The FireFly only lets you call family. I think just your Mom and Dad. It is horrible. Also, with the eyebrows and nails. I can assure you that it's all a lie. I'm 11 like I said and no one I know has every waxed their eyebrows. I have tweezed my eyebrows but not bad. Finally with the nail thing, don't get them fake ones... paint their real nails! I really hope this helps. I understand if you disagree but this is my opinion.  

Answer 15

No, they do not need cell phones. At that age the only place they go without you is to school or a friend's house, and in both places you know exactly where they are and when you will be picking them up. If there's an issue you can call the school office or the friend's house. Your daughters are far too young for cell phones.

EDIT: Many teens have phones, and let's see how responsible they are. Case in point, the user above me...I rest my case.

Answer 16

My 10 year old daughter has an AT&T prepaid cell phone. We gave it to her so  that she would quit using my phone to call her friends. The rules that we have on the phone is 1. She has to do her chores to earn the minutes for the phone. 2. The phone does NOT go to the school. 3. If she uses all of her minutes then she has to wait.

The way we do it is she gets a $30.00 card on the first. She is set up on the $1.00 a day or .10 cents a minute. As long as she uses the phone to call someone else that has an AT&T phone she is charged flat fee for a $1.00 that day. If she calls someone on their home number then she is charged a flat fee of $1.00 then she is charged .10 cents a minute.  She is charged per text message also. She has to earn the money to get unlimited texting.

I also need to add that she is diabetic so I like her to have a phone especially if she is away from home.  

To me and my husband, it teachs her that nothing is for free.

I hope this helps

Answer 17

I got my first cell phone for my 15th birthday and it was only so my mother could keep tabs on me. You could always try getting them one of those kiddie cell phones (not sure what they're called) I'm not into kids having cell phones. I think it's annoying.