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Too young for a cell phone?

  • GoChiefs
    So my wife is pissed because I won't let our 11 year old son have a cell phone. IMO, there is no need for anyone that age to need one and it's just too young.

    At what age do you feel is appropriate for a phone?
  • sleeper
    High school at the earliest. Get them a cheap flip phone with no data.
  • sleeper
    My cousin is 10 and has an iPhone 5. It's so dumb.
  • Fly4Fun
    Either highschool or driving age is appropriate generally. Anything earlier than that the kid shouldn't really be off on their own to the point that one is needed.
  • thePITman
    I don't have kids, but I agree with the "Not before high school" idea. Or if you must, it should be a non-data phone that is truly for calling/texting and not surfing the web, twitter, etc.

    What about a tablet? Should kids have a tablet before high school? They're not phones, but they're basically the same thing. However, it is different since tablets are bigger, and kids are less likely to carry it around everywhere and use while they're driving, etc. Thoughts?
  • sleeper
    thePITman;1319529 wrote:I don't have kids, but I agree with the "Not before high school" idea. Or if you must, it should be a non-data phone that is truly for calling/texting and not surfing the web, twitter, etc.

    What about a tablet? Should kids have a tablet before high school? They're not phones, but they're basically the same thing. However, it is different since tablets are bigger, and kids are less likely to carry it around everywhere and use while they're driving, etc. Thoughts?
    Well I think tablets are stupid but a tablet makes about 1 million times more sense than a cell phone at that age.
  • Commander of Awesome
    WTF does an 11 yr need a cell phone for? Call mommy and Daddy? What is the kid doing by himself at that age where he needs one. I say the kid should get a cell phone when he can buy his own.
  • sleeper
    Commander of Awesome;1319534 wrote:WTF does an 11 yr need a cell phone for? Call mommy and Daddy? What is the kid doing by himself at that age where he needs one. I say the kid should get a cell phone when he can buy his own.
    If you would have thrown some "GFY" in there I would have thought this was mcburg posting.
  • rydawg5
    I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

    As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
  • Commander of Awesome
    sleeper;1319535 wrote:If you would have thrown some "GFY" in there I would have thought this was mcburg posting.
    Don't want infractions, thx. I'm supporting the guy, kid doesn't need a cell phone. Appropiate age is when the kid can afford one.
  • Commander of Awesome
    rydawg5;1319537 wrote:I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

    As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
    Such lame excuses. Emergency as an 11 yr old? Gimmie a fucking break. Find an adult. School Events? LOL, goes to class comes home. Any parent worth a shit knows their kid's schedule and doesn't need a cell phone text to check in with little timmy during class.
  • rydawg5
    Commander of Awesome;1319540 wrote:Such lame excuses. Emergency as an 11 yr old? Gimmie a fucking break. Find an adult. School Events? LOL, goes to class comes home. Any parent worth a shit knows their kid's schedule and doesn't need a cell phone text to check in with little timmy during class.
    I'm not making an excuse. In my opinion, I don't care if it's for more than emergencies. I don't care if it's just for away games in school (i dont know if you've ever played sports but this happens) where the parent is waiting on the kid to get to the school to call home to pick them up, because the trip is far.

    I don't care.. its a communication device. what's the big deal what the reasoning is? If you're too cheap to have your kid have a phone "just in case" so be it. If you don't think you know how to control the access on the phone, no biggie don't do it.

    The point is.. to somes it's not a big deal - it's actually a plus. A way to communicate is a GOOD thing. If you can't control it, then it's on you, but what the does that to do with making it an age limit? Its just a phone.
  • sleeper
    rydawg5;1319537 wrote:I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

    As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
    What the hell is a kid doing at an event where no adult is present? If there is an event, it probably ends at a certain time. If it ends early, the coach/supervisor/adult can let the kid borrow their phone. What a concept!
  • rydawg5
    sleeper;1319545 wrote:What the hell is a kid doing at an event where no adult is present? If there is an event, it probably ends at a certain time. If it ends early, the coach/supervisor/adult can let the kid borrow their phone. What a concept!
    so now my kid is learning how to be a democrat socialist begging for things that aren't his? No thanks. I'll just give a kid a phone and then be a regular parent who sees and control the usage as I deem fit.
  • se-alum
    Yea, I actually agree with rydawg here. You never know when an emergency will come up. They're easily controlled, so I don't see what the problem is.
  • sleeper
    rydawg5;1319549 wrote:so now my kid is learning how to be a democrat socialist begging for things that aren't his? No thanks. I'll just give a kid a phone and then be a regular parent who sees and control the usage as I deem fit.
    When I was a kid, I somehow got through high school without a car or a cell phone. I turned out great; making more money than most of my peers.
  • sleeper
    Keep coddling your kids and don't be surprised when they major in art and end up living with you for the next 30 years.
  • rydawg5
    not sure how it's coddling. I'm very confused about how that could be the case.
  • rydawg5
    sleeper;1319553 wrote:When I was a kid, I somehow got through high school without a car or a cell phone. I turned out great; making more money than most of my peers.
    You did not turn out great. You have 23 banned usernames between JJHuddle & Here
  • Fly4Fun
    rydawg5;1319537 wrote:I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

    As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
    My contention is that until a certain age, a kid doesn't need a cell phone as they wouldn't be in a situation where a phone (or responsible adult I trust) isn't readily available. School events and sports there are other parents who can contact you. If they are at a friends house, I'd imagine there is phone access there as well. Other than that, a kid younger than high school or driving age shouldn't be in a situation where a phone or adult I trust wouldn't be available.
  • Pick6
    I got my first cell phone in 6th or 7th grade, pretty sure 7th. First person in my class I believe. I turned out alright.
  • GoChiefs
    Commander of Awesome;1319534 wrote:WTF does an 11 yr need a cell phone for? Call mommy and Daddy? What is the kid doing by himself at that age where he needs one. I say the kid should get a cell phone when he can buy his own.

    If he's not with mommy or daddy, he's at his grandma's. She has a phone at her house that he can use to call either of us if need be. He is never alone, which furthers my point of him not needing one. A couple of his friends and cousins have one so she wants to get him one so he can text with them, etc.

    He's 11. If theres an emergency, an adult will be present to handle it because he won't be alone.
  • Gblock
    this should be case by case basis...i dont think you should put an age on it. maturity level, academic achievment, responsibility shown for chores all would factor in. but around 7-8 grade is fair.
  • sleeper
    rydawg5;1319557 wrote:not sure how it's coddling. I'm very confused about how that could be the case.
    Kid wants cell phone. Parents give cell phone. Kid wants car. Parents give car. Kid wants to impregnante 1 million people and spread AIDS all across the planet. Parents give..

    You see where I'm going with this? If you give a mouse a cookie...yada yada.
  • sleeper
    rydawg5;1319558 wrote:You did not turn out great. You have 23 banned usernames between JJHuddle & Here
    False.