Young Child With Cell Phone (Firefly like) - Opinions?

Question

I have a 6 year old son and I just started thinking about the cell phones (like firefly from cingular) that can only call 2 numbers (and 911 I think) and is pre-payed so you can pay for a few hours and limit him to only making important calls.

He goes to his dads every other weekend that lives 100 miles away and his father is.. an idiot basically and I would feel safe if my son could call me and say "Daddy won't wake up and I'm really hungry" at noon so I can call the house and bit*h at him to wake up and feed his son.

He is not the type to use the phone when we don't allow it but can a 6 year old be trusted to keep up with a phone? Would just letting him have in on his dads weekends be a good idea? what's your experience with this?

Answer 1

I have a 7 year old and we have thought about doing the same thing.

Like, if he gets out of school early, or something happens to me , etc ..

One time he did get out of school early (because of the heat), and the school didn't notify anyone.  His bus just randomly dropped him off 2 hrs early.  I'm thinking 'what if I was out to lunch or something?'

Anyway yea, one of those disney or firefly phones that can only call certain numbers is a good idea!

Answer 2

My son is 7 ( almost 8) and my husband and I have been tossing around the idea of a firefly for a while. To some parents it sounds extreme " cell phone? I didn't have a phone til I was ___??!!" But what is the harm in giving a child the ability to communicate with a limited number of people, especially mom, dad, grandparents etc. because things DO happen, not just emergencies...

The other pro to the firefly is that they are fairly inexpensive, if it gets lost or washed in the washer by accident its not the end of the world. They sell them at Target and you can get them online (ebay, amazon etc.for a fairly good price)

The other advantage is that it can teach responcibility.

If you feel your six year old can handle it, then I would get it for him. It will offer you peace of mind while he is gone at dad's.

Answer 3

I think that sounds like a great idea. But doesn't he know how to use the house phone at his dads? Anyway I think it sounds great you should remind him that 911 is a serious number and only for emergencies and explain to him what those emergencies are. Just remind him 911 is not a joke or game.

Answer 4

My son was 6 when we got him a phone and it was one of the firefly.  We got it because he stayed after school for tutoring three days a week and this way if he got out early he could call instead of having to wait it also works well when he goes to his friends house.  The main thing here is if you feel more secure knowing he has it AND if he is responsible enough to keep up with it.  If he is always forgetting where he puts things or breaking them then chances are even if you get it for him he wont have it when he needs it.  If you think it is a good idea then go and get one for him no one knows your child like you do.

Answer 5

If you feel safer for him to have it when he at his dads. Like you said if dad sleeps in or he hungery or his dad hurts him in anyway then he could call you. I would program on there your number only and show him how to use it. I have a son that is six and his dad lives an hour away but he hardly see his dad.. Last time my son was there he got a bruise from his dad..

Answer 6

I think he can be trusted. My cousin had her first disney mobile at 6. This was so that if she went to a sleepover or similar, her mum was only a phonecall away. It sounds like a sensible idea for your son

Answer 7

6yrs old is WAYYYYYY to young to be giving him a cell phone.  Think of it this way you are asking a 6yr old child to be responsible for something really important and expensive and in the event he lost it you would be very very angry with him.

Its not a good idea and if you have concerns about dad and the way he cares for your son then perhaps you should have his visits monitored until you are happy.

ETA: A 6yr old is still a child and should have chil like responsibilities and giving a 6yr old a cell phone is not a good idea.  I will say that i do have experience with this because i gave my son a cell phone a Migo similar to a firefly when he was 8yrs old and he left it a friends house, left it at a store, forgot it at his grandparents house and it finally got to the point we said he wasn't ready it was just too much responsibility for him especially with his school, and sports and homelife. 6yr old kids are still babies mentally and shouldn't have to worry about a cell phone not to mention they will view it as a toy no matter how much you tell them its not one.

Good Luck in whatever you decide to do but i still think its not a good idea and that the real issues ly with dad and you need to address those concerns.

Keep the thumbs down coming i appreciate it.

Answer 8

I agree with the second answer... the real question here isn't about the cell phone... if his dad is such a jerk, your son shouldn't be spending time with him anyways... a cell phone doesn't substitute for a good parent...

Answer 9

get him the phone

if  u think its quite needed then why not..

Answer 10

fire flys are perfect for his age u can call ur dad mom 911 and a friend there is only 4 bottons i got a cell phone when i was 5 i really liked it i have a 2 year old daugter i am geting her when shes 5 a cellphone hope i gave u good advice