What's the purpose of giving a cell phone to a grade schooler?

Question

It's not like they drive yet, or go places by themselves without an adult anyway. I live in a rural town and little kids are carrying around cell phones. lol...why? I'd love to hear some answers!

Answer 1

The grade schoolers I know that have them are the ones that walk home from school or are latch key kids.

Answer 2

I would imagine because if they get in trouble, then the parent knows that the kid has a phone and they can call home.

Answer 3

My children don't have them yet but, the parents who allow there children to have them are for emergency only! I mean for the younger ones!  Jr. high and High schoolers, I would think to keep in touch with there friends!

Answer 4

No reason what so ever and the kids that have them are really annoying my kids will not have a cell phone until they can drive

Answer 5

well,

for safety reasons.

I'm in 8th grade, but i started walking to and from school when i was in 5th.  My parents bought me a phone that they wanted me to have with me when ever i walked to school so i could have it with me for safety reasons.

Answer 6

There is no reason to give a grade schooler a cell phone. My daughter is 8 and thinks she needs one, but she doesn't even call anyone from our home phone. My 12 and 14 year old neices have a cell phone, but they have the prepaid ones and they have to buy their own minutes by doing chores. My sister is thinking of getting a plan when her oldest goes to high school, but it's just because she will be involved in after school activities and clubs etc. in case meetings or practices get out early.

Answer 7

My kids are first and third grade.  I haven't broken down and gotten the older one a phone yet, but I may in the next six months.  She'll be 9 in a couple weeks and is often in the neighborhood at friends homes or biking.  I like the security of her being able to get hold of me or vise versa.  Now, she always takes my phone when she's without me and that is going to start getting old.  I like the idea of the chaperone phones.  Those allow the parents to set a gps range that the child can be in and they track where the child is.  I really like that idea.  So we will most likely be getting those.

Answer 8

well i havent given one to my kids i dont think they need it but i know a girl who has given her 3 yr old her own mobile so she can speak to her dad when he rings without having to go through mum ... still seems a little strange to me

Answer 9

they don't need them,

but maybe parents just want to give them their own phone line

Answer 10

Most of them are carrying around phones because they think it's cool and it makes them look "mature."

A friend gave her kids (age 9 and 10) cell phones but did not purchase a plan for the phones. That way they could play games, store numbers, or call 911 (all phones can call 911, plan or not).

Answer 11

I bought my first cell phone when I was 12...I bought it by myself with my own birthday money...I am 17 now and I think it is important for your child, i would say 12 or older, because maybe one night they will be with a friend and maybe the want to come home earlier than expected and their friend may not want tthem to so they hide the phone away from them...this sounds weird but it has happened to me...it will allow them to call you....and also because what if there is an emergency...if they have a cell phone they can call you.

Answer 12

There isn't one.

At that age you should keep track of your kid well enough that he doesn't have to call you every five minutes.

My nephew (8) got one and he calls my sister every hour or so at work... not to say where he is or that he is okay but to tattle or pester her for things or privileges she has said no to.

EDIT: Most schools have payphones and there is a payphone every block or two. Why not give your kid a roll or quarters incase there is an emergency or they need you for something.

Answer 13

i also think its dumb i have a 1st grader really smart and he wants one and i say no just cause your friends have one you dont need one he always with me cause of all the sicko's out there i am always a foot away...

Answer 14

because it is a nececity in the modern world. I am in ninth grade, and I got my first phone in 6th grade, which is later than most people, and I use it constantly. allot of the time I am not at home, and I cant use a land line. I think whenever you start going off on your own and having real friends is a good age to have a phone, which is probably sometime between 2nd and 4th grade

Answer 15

so they can call their mom and tell them they wont be coming home for dinner...idk people are weird....

Answer 16

you should give a child a cell phone at least when in middle scholl in case they get out earrly and you did not get the memo

Answer 17

It's so they can get in touch with their parents in case of an emergency. Or, for little situations that are less than emergencies, but still require communication. For example, if a mother dropped her daughter off at dance class, and the class ended fifteen minutes earlier than usual, the child could call their parents with the touch of a button and get picked up sooner rather than later.

Elementary schoolers don't need cell phones for socialization, but I still think they should have them for emergency situations, and for any time they are out of the house without a parent or relative.

Answer 18

so they can be more safe

Answer 19

We got my 5th grader a phone just this past month for 1 reason - our contract was up and while renewing added her to the plan as come August she will be going to a magnet school and will be on a bus for 1 1/2 hrs each way and I want her to be able to contact me if the bus is running late.  Right now she has it turned off and in her backpack simply in case there is some kind of emergency while she is on the bus coming home, as I meet her at the bus stop - or so I can let her know if I am running late and she needs to walk herself home.  That is it.  I check the phone activity and she knows if it is every used during school hours she will lose the privilege of having a phone, and yes it is a privilege!

Answer 20

i think it is a good idea to get thema firefly that way they have a way to contact you and it is not really a cellphone(: