Do your children have cellphones? How old were they when they got one?

Question

Although I understand that it's easier to get in touch with the kids this way but where should a 10year old be other than outside and closeby with siblings or with other family members or at a friend's house?

I think it was better when parents had to call their children's friends' homes and speak to the parents, catch up and ask for their kids instead of ring up a 10year old's phone.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I have 8 kids, 21, 19, 14, 4, 4, 4 months, 4 months, 4 months, The three oldest have phones. T age 8, if they went somewhere, they could take the 'kid phone' this was just for them to take when they needed it and they could only call us or another adult. At age 11, they got their own phones with no texts and limited minutes. At 12, they got phones with texts and unlimited minutes. Some people may not agree with them having phones so early, but I had/have responsible kids that I could trust with phones.

Answer 2

my daughter got one at 10. this way i wouldnt have to call her fathers house and have him pick up.  now there r phone where you can block calls out.......only to calls in her memory box. (numbers I put in) the only down side was anyone can call her. but it worked for a while. i felt i needed to do this to be in touch with her.

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now she is 14 (dont forget the 1/2 ha ha) and she has a "real cell phone" as long as she keeps her marks up and gives me her phone at 9pm on schol nights....i am fine witht this.

i think her father agrees to these rule also when she is there.

a child can have one, but with rules.

Answer 3

My stepdaughter got hers when she started secondary school, at 11, as she would be traveling about 4 miles alone on the school bus. So it was for safety more then anything. My boys will probably not have one til they are a bit older as their school will be closer

Answer 4

10 is an unneccessary age. I was 12 when I mine. That's a pretty good age.

:)

Answer 5

Until age 13 kids should not be left alone without adult supervision, so there really is no need for them to have one. My step-kids had to wait until they were 18 to buy their own because my husband and I knew that they would rack up a huge bill, and when they got their own phones they ended up getting them shut off within a couple of months because they couldn't pay the bill.  

Answer 6

I'll answer for my mom.

When I was 15 1/2 I got one. My brother was 10 and got one a few months later when my mom renewed her contract. At 14 I was begging my mom for one but she didn't give in and she said she would never get a 14 year old a cell phone, why she got one for my brother when he was that young was beyond me.

I am now 19 and my brother is 14 and we still have phones

on my moms contract.

She is letting him do things younger than I did and it pissed me off.

Answer 7

I've come to realize there isn't a cut and dry answer for this. Each family dynamic is different.

Personally, I think that they should have a cell phone when they are away from home frequently without a parent (with the exception of school).

If, as a parent, you're fine with dropping your 12 year old off at the mall, then I think you should provide them with a cell phone. I also think that if they spend considerable time at a friend's house then they should be provided with a phone to use while they are there. I would consider it extra protection.

My children don't start going places alone until they are around 15, so they have no use for a cell phone.

That said, my 17 year old has a cell phone. It's on my plan and he pays me monthly.

Answer 8

i only got a cell phone when i turned 16 yrs old and that was because i had my license so my mom thought it was necessary in case of an accident and such, but i had a job and had to pay for it myself.  I really don't think any younger a cell phone would be necessary.

Answer 9

I am 20 now, but I got my cell phone when I was 16. I was driving and I didn't (still don't) like driving without a cell phone. You just never know when your can is gonna break down, and there are just too many crazies out there that are more than willing to "help". Also, I am horrible with directions and have called my mom more than once to find out how to get home.

However, I paid for it, as well as my car, its insurance, its gas, maintenance, and repairs

Answer 10

a 10 year old should definatly not have a phone.my cousin is 8 years ols(going into 4th grade and she has a texting hpone.(u know the kind with the keyboard.) and it is entirely unnessecary.and she also has unlimited texting.also very unnessecary.