Why should I limit the people my 10-year-old girl can call on her cell phone?

Question

I got her a phone for emergencies; I pay for the calls to essential people (parents, babysitters, etc) and she pays for the rest. Should I allow only certain contacts, or let her call anybody she wants on her own dime?

Answer 1

I would probably limit the people she talks to. Cell phone bills can really get out of hand. Unless you are trying to teach her money management and responsibility I would probably limit her.

My son is way to young for this, but my niece is 10 and she has a cell that lets her call 5 people. Her mom, me, dads work, grandma, and a close family friend/ care giver.

Good Luck and I hope she enjoys her new phone!

Answer 2

She pays for the rest? A 10 year old?  Got quite a racket there going mom.  I personally would limit her contacts to her top 5 friends and your choices and pay for the bill myself.  I use 2 phones (my parents - for doing their shopping and a prepay phone for myself).  Both phones tell you the number of minutes used.  Limit her to those numbers of minutes that you feel are reasonable.

My soon-to-be-stepson only has a phone because of sports. There are no payphones at the school any longer and the office has been locked up more than once making it difficult for him (and others) to get a ride home.  He can make all his other calls via the perfectly good landline we have.

Answer 3

A 10 year old with a cell phone!?!  You make her pay for the rest??  Nothing about this makes any sense at all.    How in the h**l does she have a job?  If she gets an allowance, which you give her, then aren't you really paying for everything?

Answer 4

I wouldn't give a 10 year old a cell phone. My girls are not allowed to be alone without an adult yet.

Answer 5

She should only be able to call you or other emergency contacts. nobody else. She is too young for a phone anyway. Get a phone that is programmed only to send or receive calls to those certain numbers and 911.

Answer 6

let her do wat she wants. wat i would do is just check her phone every week and see wat kind of people she has on there. just let her pay for it u shouldnt care because ur not paying for it!

Answer 7

What kind of emergencies can a 10 year old girl get into? She is usually at school or with you, correct? You can get a phone, and be able to call 911 without a plan or anything.

Answer 8

I don't think kids should have phones at all. If it is for emergencies then there are only two numbers she needs...the parents.

Answer 9

Why does a ten year old have a cell phone anyway??

I don't think she's old enough to have one. That's a responsiblity she shouldn't have, she should be with someone that will watch her! ten years old!

Answer 10

i would monitor it, my phone is for emergancies too, but i also occasionally use it to phone ppl when i dont have a phone around. I have pay and talk, and right now i have 130$ in my phone still, but my parents watch how much i talk as long as its not too much, and not any subscriptions things.

Answer 11

i got my first cell phone when i was 10. my parents mostly pay cuz i bought the phone myself. you could do that if you were worried about safety.

Answer 12

A ten year old is to young for a cell phone and if it is for emergencies then why should she be able to call who ever she wants.

Answer 13

Kids at that age, or under 16 in that case, dont need a phone. She most likely is always with someone that has one. If she is at a friends  house, Im sure there is a house phone. What did YOU do at 10?  I think if you want to each responsibilities, stick with the basic and avoid the stress....

She should keep her room clean, herself clean, and help with chores. She should be responsible to always have her school work done and to let you know where she is going and when she will be back.  Dont let peer pressure make your decisions or hers.

Answer 14

Well you should limit the people that she talks to b/c one day her calls are going to get out of hand,she'll lose track of the minutes she has left and then she'll go over and then she won't have the money for the bill.......is she in any type of afterschool activities to the piont that she is 10 with a cell???