My son is 8yr turning 9 this fall he asked for a cell...Ahhhh?

Question

Okay I found this phone called a Firefly just for kids it only has four buttons just call me his dad and other emergncy numbers. Can I add this phone on my plan or does anyone know where to pay for one cheap or used?? A cell phone!!! when I was eight I wanted a barbie dream house.

Answer 1

a cellphone for a 9 year old I dont think so. I didnt have a cellphone until i could put it in my name and pay for it myself, I do not see the point in kids having cellphones sorry

Answer 2

There is NO reason a 9 yr old needs a cell phone, for ANY reason.

Answer 3

My cousin's 5 and she has a cell phone. My sister is 7 and a half and is getting one soon. I see most people are outraged and asking you who would your son call at that age. Personally, I see it not so much as a who the child would call, but when and why. Let's say my sister and I go to the movies together. I rarely ever pick up my phone if I'm not already using it to text someone, so it's frustrating for my parents to try and reach me. If my sister has a cell also, then they can try calling her to reach me. This instance can also be applied to my mom, dad, and brother since they, too, rarely pick up their cell phones.

In the words of Montesqieu, one government system won't work for all. Just because other parents tell you not to doesn't mean you should necessarily listen to them. If you feel your son is capable of handling a cell phone, and if you feel he deserves one, then go for it. If not, then don't.

Answer 4

Don't you know how to say the word "no"?  None of my kids have cellphones, not my 11 year old not my 8 year old not my 5 year old.

Get over your not wanting to talk to your son's father.  YOUR immaturity about not wanting to talk to him has nothing to do with your son.  Just because you "don't like" to talk to the boy's father doesn't mean you can act like a child about it.  Your son doesn't NEED a cellphone he NEEDS a mother who acts like an adult.

Answer 5

Don't give into his peer pressure, you are the parent and he does not need the phone! It is OK for parents to say no to their child, boundaries are good.

L

Answer 6

tell him that he does not need one until he is driving that is what my mom told me and I agree with that.

Answer 7

I wouldn't give a child that age any type of phone. We used to have the Migo through verizon but didn't even get that until out oldest were 11. If they get a cell phone at age 9 what will they expect at age 13, 14, etc...?

Answer 8

Are you sure that he wouldn't lose it? I would test how capable he is of keeping track of a cell phone by making him carry around a toy cell phone for 6-12 months.

I would be too worried to let my son have a cell phone. I'd be worried that he would find a way to unwittingly rack up a thousand dollar cell phone bill. It seems like a lot of responsibility for someone so young, and these cell phone providers seem to make a lot of money with "surprise" bills that are way over their monthly charges. FireFly claims it will have no overage charges, but I would be looking real close to see if there are any other ways to incur charges with the phone.

I won't waste your time by preaching to you, though. You've had plenty of the "he's too young" from other posters, so I'm sure you've got the point by now.

Anyway, back to answering your question, since this is Answers.com, this is the information I found on a web search about Firefly carriers:

"Service is available through a variety of sources. Besides going through Firefly, you can buy the phone from Cingular for $49 with a two-year contract. Target also offers the phone with a Cingular SIM, or you can purchase it from regional carriers Cincinnati Bell and SunComm with service on their respective networks. Working on a prepay plan, there's no contract or expensive charges for going over your minutes. Each handset comes with 30 minutes, but you can buy more when you're done. An additional 40 minutes is $10, 100 minutes is $25, and 200 minutes cost $50."

It seems like it would be simple enough to call your current provider and ask if you can add on... But while the Firefly plan is a pre-pay plan, you will want to check out all the details of the plan by your provider or whatever provider you sign up with. Read the small print.

If you're going to do something, wise or unwise, you might as well be equipped with all of the information!

Answer 9

i say he is too young

Answer 10

We got our son the Firefly.  And he was 8 when we got it for him.  .  We got it because, God forbid something happen to him, they can track where the phone is.  Also, it makes it a whole lot easier to get a hold of him when he is at his friends.  I also like it because you can program numbers in the phone, and those are the only numbers that he can call AND the only numbers that can call him.  Our cell phone company had refurbished ones, so we didn't have to pay anything out of pocket for it, and it is only an extra 9.99 a month.

Answer 11

I really don't think a 9yr old should have a cell phone, BUT if you do give in, i would suggest to make this apart of teaching him responsibility. use the cellphone as a tool to teach him about paying bills ($5.00 a month, chores, etc). Also, if you are concerned about the cost, you can always do a family share plan and the phones now have all these neat features. you can limit his phone use by limiting the incoming or outgoing calls. Also, verizon has a Parent/Child Chaperone feature that allows you to locate your child where he is. It's a really neat feature. I thought about getting it for my mother because she gets missing sometimes and i worry when I can't locate her (smile).

Answer 12

i got my 9 year old a pre-paid phone , they cost around $20.  if he wants to use it he has to do chores and save his money to buy minutes.

Answer 13

My 8yo asked for a cell phone for her last birthday.  The answer was a HUGE no, no hesitation whatsoever.  There is no reason for a child that young to have a cell phone.  Who are they going to call that they can't call from the home phone?  Just because they want something, it doesn't mean we parents must comply.  It does them good to be told no sometimes.  The world isn't going to bend over backwards to meet their every whim.  Better that they learn that lesson now.  We told her that she would get a cell phone when she was responsible enough and needed one, and that it would probably be somewhere around age 14.

When she starts going out with friends to the movies or something, we'll probably get her one so we can keep tabs on her.

Answer 14

there is a simple word that can fix all your problems...NO! He is way too young to have a phone. Just because he wants one does not mean you have to get it

Answer 15

Every kid in this town has a phone!  Every kid except my son that is.  He is 11 and has been begging me FOREVER to get him a phone.  When the  7 year old up the road has one, why cant he?  I guess the way I look at it, I'm a SAHM and if he needs to talk to me that bad he can walk through the door and say it!  If it is a friend he wants to talk to-most of them live a couple of blocks away.  I haven't given in and don't plan to anytime soon.  Do you really find it necessary, or are you just unable to say no to your son?

Answer 16

he is too young for a cell in my opinion but i have seen younger ones get them. i know the power of wanting to please your child. i have a 3 year old son and i have trouble not buying him stuff all the time. but to answer your question you can add one to your plan make it a family plan most of the time second line can be added to a plan for 9.99 per month. check out wirefly.com for phones. that phone is junk though. you may want to just get a regular cell and put parental controls on it. for at&t has smart limits where you can put limitation on certain things. good luck.

Answer 17

the only reason i got a cell when i was 9 was to call my dad cuz he coulnt get thru to me thru my mom. i only see him on weekends. he is way to young for a cell if u too are still together. but your the mom.

Answer 18

So you are considering giving a 3rd grader (at most 4th grader) a cell phone?  Where on earth will he be going that an emergency could arise and no adult around?  Think this one through again.  Way too young.

Answer 19

NO. He is still too young.

Answer 20

just because he asked for one doesnt mean you have to give him one you know.

Answer 21

i'm not suprised

Answer 22

he does not need a cell at the moment because you are always be with you when you are around so no need for a cell phone. Cell phones are for teens because they have little bit more freedon then kids that are turning 9. i give my teenage son those freedom so he do need a cell phone to contact me if he in trouble or emergency he usually hang out with his friends, go to movies so im not around but thats the few reasons to get cell phones.

Answer 23

To be honest, an 8 yr. old has no need for a cell and I wouldn't give him one. Just tell him he's too young. He has to learn that we don't always get what we want and that is simply not an age appropriate gift. If you do decide to get it, I believe it's a pay as you go.

Answer 24

These days kids want everything they see.Its not how it was when I was young.I think a child of 8 years nearly 9 is still to young to have a phone i'd wait at least when he starts high school.

Answer 25

I agree with the other posters. He's just too young to have a cell phone. Another thing to consider is that if you get him one, he will NOT be allowed to have it at school. I am a teacher and our kiddos get in big trouble for bringing cell phones to school.