Cellphones for kids

[Cynical Ninja]

When is the right age?

My daughter (who is 10 in November) is on about wanting one for her birthday or Christmas this year but me and my wife both have misgivings.

It would be a none contract pay as you go phone but we still have misgivings. Some of her friends have them but that doesn't cut any rope with us, because some of her friends are ⁹⁄₁₀ going on 25.

When do you think the right age for a cellphone is?

[Duchess]

That would be an awesome birthday gift! OP, I don't think it's so much that she needs one but she's at the age where she wants to be like her friends. I would imagine that it's considered "cool" to have a mobile phone & kids want to be cool. Buy her the phone, damnit.

[Maggot]

A net-10 phone uses a card that must be renewed when the time runs out. A great opportunity to teach the value of money and responsibility. About 30.00 for 300 min, set up some houskeeping jobs or some kind of work that will make her have to earn the phone. 10 is kind of young though.

[QueenBee]

I dunno. <shrug> a cell phone at 10? Just because her friends have one? I like the idea of a phone you can just load up with minutes...with an added stipulation that the minutes need to last for X number of days..and if minutes run out before time runs out..OH WELL.

[thekid65]

We gave my kid one @ age 12. Personally, I dont see why a 10 year old would need one, however I cant see any harm in it. With that being said, I'm not a big fan of cellphones, they're a huge distraction as most asshats really don't know when it's appropriate to use them.

At age 10, it would probably be more of a toy to her than anything else....but every child is different.

[Lady Cop]

i think kids should have one in case they are ever lost or approached by some monster, like the poor little Jewish boy in NYC.
just a basic phone, no games, internet and extras, so they can dial 911 (or 999 in UK) in an emergency if needed. sadly it has come to that. give the kids a phone for their safety. and if they are ever missing, pings can be traced.

i don't know the "right" age, it depends on the child.

[ramseycat]

Both my kids have cell phones. We don't have a land line in the house anymore since we all have cell phones. My youngest is 11 and has had one for two years. I wanted him to have one so that I could talk to him when he was at his dad's. It's also comes in handy when he is at a friend's house. I can call him directly to tell him I am coming to get him or whatever. I just feel better that he has one so he can call me whenever he needs to. He doesn't have internet or anything like that on his phone. We do have unlimited texting for the family which is nice because the kids text like there is no tomorrow. My oldest had an iphone which he saved up his money to buy himself. I pay $25 a month for his data plan. Both kids have chores they have to do in the house to pay for their cell phones and other things.

OP, get her the phone. Make her work for it but she will love it and I think you will be glad she has it.

[sally]

i think kids should have one in case they are ever lost or approached by some monster, like the poor little Jewish boy in NYC.
just a basic phone, no games, internet and extras, so they can dial 911 (or 999 in UK) in an emergency if needed. sadly it has come to that. give the kids a phone for their safety. and if they are ever missing, pings can be traced.

i don't know the "right" age, it depends on the child.

I think it's good for kids to have just a basic phone in case of an emergency and it makes me feel better to know they have a phone I can reach them on if they go to a friends house. I hate all that texting crap, though, so my kids pay for that and all the extras themselves by working and doing chores.

[Cynical Ninja]

Ok she can have a basic pay as you go one for her birthday in November, you have convinced me.

Along to go with her ipod and 3ds and wii the spoilt little brat.



The 3D games for her 3ds give me a headache anyone else seen them?, okay for about 5 minutes then my head starts to swim.

[Maggot]

This brings back memories, it seems like just yesterday I was buying my daughter a .22 to go target practicing with me when she turned 12. The years do fly by.

[Cynical Ninja]

This brings back memories, it seems like just yesterday I was buying my daughter a .22 to go target practicing with me when she turned 12. The years do fly by.

52,400 Americans shot so far this year.
127 Americans shot so far today.

Never let the facts about gun violence in America go unsaid.

States with the highest levels of gun ownership have 114% higher firearm homicide rates and 60% higher homicide rates than states with the lowest gun ownership.

http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunvi...sinthehome

[Cracker]

This brings back memories, it seems like just yesterday I was buying my daughter a .22 to go target practicing with me when she turned 12. The years do fly by.

I've had a rifle since I was 8. I have never killed anybody. No accidents, still have both my eyes and all my toes, no dead pets. I think it's great you raise kids that are responsible enough to learn how to handle a firearm.

Only retarded people and criminals can't handle the responsibility. I'm tired of people wanting to restrict our freedom based on the idiots. You can't mold your life based on idiots because then you are the idiot (or a reasonable facsimile).

If you get a kid a cellphone, check to see if your kid is using it at school during classes. Cell phones in schools and colleges are a big effing problem. Half the time when kids get caught texting at school, they are texting their fucking retarded parent. You would think adults have more sense, but nope.

[BlueTiki]

Half the time when kids get caught texting at school, they are texting their fucking retarded parent. You would think adults have more sense, but nope.

Where else do the parents have a better chance of scoring weed?

Church?

[Cracker]

Where else do the parents have a better chance of scoring weed?

Church?

You need to rejoin the flock. You have forgotten that people "get high on Jesus."

Did you know Christmas is based on magic mushrooms? The red and white ones were harvested and hung in pine trees to dry. The reindeer snacked on them. Makes you snicker when you think about it being a "Christian birthday." All hail the mushroom!

[Maggot]

This brings back memories, it seems like just yesterday I was buying my daughter a .22 to go target practicing with me when she turned 12. The years do fly by.

52,400 Americans shot so far this year.
127 Americans shot so far today.

Never let the facts about gun violence in America go unsaid.

States with the highest levels of gun ownership have 114% higher firearm homicide rates and 60% higher homicide rates than states with the lowest gun ownership.

http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunvi...sinthehome

A great reason why kids should be taught the proper use of a handgun or rifle. That number would go down if more were taught the correct usage of a gun. Education is the key. :agreed:

[Mommabear]

52,400 Americans shot so far this year.
127 Americans shot so far today.

Never let the facts about gun violence in America go unsaid.

States with the highest levels of gun ownership have 114% higher firearm homicide rates and 60% higher homicide rates than states with the lowest gun ownership.

http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunvi...sinthehome

I will continue to look at different facts.

http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp

As for a cell phone for a child, I think it depends on the child. I won't be getting a cell phone for my oldest for awhile. He is 10 years old. But then, we do most things as a family.

[Cynical Ninja]

Everytime a yank gets shot my sense of self satisfaction grows exponentially.

Everytime a yank gets accidentally shot by a relative I am fully 100% vindicated.

Please continue to blow each other away it massages my already huge and overblown ego.

Thank you.

[Cynical Ninja]

A great reason why kids should be taught the proper use of a handgun or rifle. That number would go down if more were taught the correct usage of a gun. Education is the key. :agreed:

Alternatively don't teach children to use deadly weapon in case the queen of England invades or the new world order i coming.

You yanks have all your priorities fucked up, teach my 12 year old daughter safe sex? no way!, teach her how to blow someone away?, yay!

You are truly fucked as a nation, the empire is crumbling as we speak.

[username]

I think I got my kids their phones when they were near 11. I think 10 is okay but hopefully she's a responsible kid. My scatterbrained daughter has lost one entirely and generally has a hard time keeping track of hers.

I'm not sure about those pay as you go plans. We put our kids on our plan but specified no internet connecting on their lines. Initially, it was phone only but I recently broke down and now they get 200 texts a month. If they use them up, they're done until the next billing cycle. I also pay a little extra to have parental controls. I can set what hours they can/can't use their phones (that's how I addressed the school issue). When they first got them, I just didn't let them take them to school but this year they walked home more often so I let them take them.

[Cracker]

Initially, it was phone only but I recently broke down and now they get 200 texts a month. If they use them up, they're done until the next billing cycle. I also pay a little extra to have parental controls. I can set what hours they can/can't use their phones (that's how I addressed the school issue). When they first got them, I just didn't let them take them to school but this year they walked home more often so I let them take them.

I remember getting the 500 texts plan and having a $1000 cell bill one month. Just do unlimited texting. It will save you from having to beat somebody's ass.

I charged the phones in MY bedroom at night. That takes care of a lot of up-all-night bullshit that they try in high school.

I like the parental control option. I wish all parents would do that. All parents should at least get the detailed billing to check up on their little darlings.

Cell phones cause HUGE disruptions in schools. Bullying, sexting, cheating, sending racy pics, texting during classes, phones ringing, calculators, filming kids and classes without permission, etc. If they are turned off and put away, it isn't an issue, but some kids just can't do that. How many families do you see out to eat with everybody fully absorbed by their phones and not talking to each other? That is sad.