Do you think it's apprpriate for a 9 year old to have a trackphone?

Question

Do you think it's apprpriate for a 9 year old to have a trackphone?

Answer 1

I think if they are leaving home without you they should have a prepaid phone for emergencies only (not school, too distracting. for when they go to a friend's, or outside to play if they are allowed down the street by themselves or something.).

If they are with you, they don't need one.

You could always buy one of those phones specifically for children though, that will let them call 911, and their parents only.

Answer 2

i dont think its nessasary for a kid that age to have a cell phone. my kid didnt get one till 7th grade when she became involved in more activities at school.Unless the parent finds it easier to buy the kid the phone than listen to the kid whine because they dont have itif thats the case then get ready to just keep buying more and more stuff Today a tracphone next month theyll want a laptop and on and on. i cant beleive that trac phones are more expensive than a plan ive used them for years and only spend 20 bucks a month for a 60  minute card if your on the phone more than that your talking too much . The early tracphones had crappy reception but mine works fine anywhere i've used it and i live in a rural area

Answer 3

no, thats ridiculous. when your only 9 years old, you will always be under supervision of someone older, who will have a phone for them to use if needed.

Answer 4

I don't think there's a need for a nine-year-old to have any type of phone.   They simply have no need for it.   Once they hit middle school, perhaps some consideration should be given to a phone.  But not before.

Answer 5

My 9 yr. old does, mostly for safety issues if needed.

Answer 6

We have a "kids" tracfone.  I have 3 children and they collectively "own" it.

When my children are at sleepovers, I send it with them.  That way, if something happens that they are uncomfy with, they can always go to the bathroom and call.  

They have NEVER called a friend on it.  I have, on occasion, used it to call my cell phone if my cell phone's lost.

My oldest text me a couple of times during a sleepover - just to say she loved us.  

When we have the school carnival on school grounds - my oldest is allowed to go with friends around to the various booths by herself.  She takes the phone so we can keep in contact.

It IS a different world.

I orginally got one for them when I went in for major surgery.  I was going to be in the hospital for 10 days.  It was tons easier to give the oldest the phone and have all the kids meet at one place at school - and then call Dad to figure out where to be picked up and by whom.

Answer 7

I have a nine year old - and he wants one badly - says he "needs" one... I beg to differ. I think it varies with your lifestyle. Is he ever without an adult? Is he out and about without you in the neighborhood? I usually give my son my phone when he goes out to his friends house to play for the afternoon. He can call me at home to ask me a question, and I can get in touch with him quickly if I need to know where he is - good luck ♥

Answer 8

every kid in our neighborhood has a cell...it's really scary but it's also effecient. My god daughter is 6 and she has one she keeps in her school bag for emergencies. But in all honesty it's probably cheaper to get a phone with a plan and not a trackphone. trackphones end up costing more money in the long run. it's a different world we live in now.

Answer 9

nope not at all it is a great ideal

  they can use no more then they have on the minutes

and in todays word if they have it in case of emergency they can use it

1 school something bad happens shooting kidnapping

2 home trouble in family or kidnapping

   plus it will teach the responbilty

Answer 10

It depends on your personal situation.  In general I'd say no, but maybe your kid is involved in extra-curricular activities that would make it better if he had one.  I agree with the poster in getting a phone with a plan.  Trackphones do get expensive and the minutes also expire (I forget after how long).

Answer 11

Who is a 9 year old going to call and where would they be that they don't have access to a phone?  They will always be with adults who have phones at this age, so what is the point.  My oldest son is 12 and probably won't have a phone for at least another year.

Answer 12

Great question! My daughter just turned seven, and I did not want o appear to be "one of those parents" that have their children hooked on gadgets when they are too young for it. But then I ended up getting my daughter a cll phone (a prepaid plan from AT&T) because I liked the idea of her having the phone in case of emergencies (she walks the 1 block home with my neibghbor's ten year old, but you never know what can happen in that 5 minute walk) and then I also liked the thought of on the weekends, being able to call her personally if she spends the night over a friends house. And given the fact that she is so young, and she doesn't talk to anyone but me and her dad right now, it is less expensive than putting her on our plan. I suppose if the trackphone os for mostly you and your child staying connected, then I am all for it.

Answer 13

well it depends if he is responsible or not

Answer 14

It depends but yes for saftey reasons to get in touch with a parent or whom ever needs to be contacted

Answer 15

In today's day and age why not.  My daughter is 7 I got her one for Christmas.  It was $15 and I put 30 minutes on every couple of months. (costs about $20).  She keeps it in her school bag and really doesn't use it much but it's there if she needs it.  I pick her up every day so she doesn't have much need for nor does she know many phone numbers to call it's just for emergencies and because she likes it (it's pink).  If the nine year old takes a bus to and from school or has to walk home I think it is a great thing to have.  They are really cheap now.  I spend as much buying her junk at the dollar store.

Answer 16

No I don't, a 9 year ol doesn't need a cellphone.

Answer 17

dno wat a trackphone is but i know it is important for a child who goes out by themself or goes to school by themself to have a mobile phone. it is much more safer and the child will feel safer and so will the parents.

Answer 18

No, the prices are RAPE. go get her a phone with real service. its $20 bucks for 60 minutes with tracfone, and its like $50 for unlimited talking with like Cingular or something.

Answer 19

no, i am 15 and i dont even have a phone

Answer 20

Yes because you never know what the situation could be. I would get he or her a simple minute phone for emergencies only with a phone card with a hundred minutes and maybe a litttle case.

Answer 21

I think it is totally a personal issue per family. What are they going to use the phone for? Is it to be picked up from friends or sports? I would only let a 9 year old use it for contacting me if they are not at home and I would to be able to contact them. At times, the other adult in charge may not answer their phone and I would always want to be able to contact my child. And let them to be able to contact me. When the child is with me, I would take the phone away. Then, I do not feel it is needed.

Track phones in our area are expensive and  have very terrible reception. I like the other persons idea of putting the child on your phone plan.

Answer 22

It depends on the situation.  When my daughter was the only one in school she did not have one; but when her brother started school, they would walk home together (one mile, side streets, lots of kids going the same route).  One day, they were walking home and some older boys decided it would be fun to knock a beehive out of a tree (about a block from the school).  Well.....my son ended up getting stung by a bee (only one thankfully), and he had to walk home, crying in pain the whole way.  I felt like a horrible mother because my daughter had no way to get hold of me and did not feel comfortable going to a nearby house to use the phone.  She had a Firefly in her possession the very next day, with instructions on how to use it as well as restrictions (it stayed off at school, and never left her backpack until she was off school grounds).  She's 11 now and wants her own cell so she can call her friends; well that's not a good enough reason for me, but I am considering it for the safety issues that we have in our society today.  I may let her take her dad's prepaid phone for a month (getting him a new one), and see how well she manages her minutes.  She does get an allowance, and will have to buy her own minutes from that; but if she uses it excessively, it's back to a Firefly for her.  LOL