Too young for a cell phone?

• like_that

  

  I agree with the not before HS rule. 11 years old? Fuck that.
  
  
  Before I had a phone, if I went out, my mom typically lend me her phone just in case I needed to call home for a ride or an emergency. She would only lend the phone if it was absolutely necessary. Otherwise I could borrow a friends phone or use a parents phone. I didn't get my first cell midway thru sophomore year aka when i started driving.
• Gblock

  as far as emergencies go kids get snatched more and more everyday walking to the bus or weirdos drive by and flash them or other stuff like that. not that it is a reason one way or another for a phone. but neither is whether or not you had a phone in 1972 or 82 or 52. you didnt have a phone because they were too expensive and or they werent invented, not because you were outside all day or reading books or working out. its 2012 if the other kids have phones you basically need a phone too sheesh. if they were around when you were 11 you would have had one because most of you got everything you wanted too...gtfo if you had an atari you probably would have had a cellphone
• friendfromlowry

  GoChiefs;1319572 wrote: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.

  When was the last time you texted something important or meaningful that you couldn't have just called the person, or waited 'til later? Okay, when was the last time that happened while you were 11 years old? Lol, no offense, but your wife needs to gtfo. Buy him something that won't be a complete waste of time/money.
• se-alum

  

  How sheltered were you guys? I was staying home by myself for short periods of time at age 11. After school my friends and I would walk to each others houses without parental supervision. At ball games and the fair my friends and I got to walk around by ourselves. This wasn't just me, it was all my friends.
• BORIStheCrusher

  

  There are phones which only allow you to call numbers that are programed in, I don't see why it's a big deal if a kid had one.
• rydawg5

  
  
  I can change these setting 100 times a day
• said_aouita

  

  Gblock;1319576 wrote: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.

  Yea. I don't think Jr High is too early for a cell. Tell the kid if he gets all A's, he can get a cell phone. Make him work for it.
• WebFire

  said_aouita;1319643 wrote:Yea. I don't think Jr High is too early for a cell. Tell the kid if he gets all A's, he can get a cell phone. Make him work for it.

  I don't mind Jr. High but it would still be limited. It does make it easy with all the activities kids participate in these days. Any earlier is that is unnecessary.
• Con_Alma

  My kids are free to get one when they are able to sign their own contract. There are plenty of other toys I'd rather buy them.
• Pick6

  

  Con_Alma;1319661 wrote:My kids are free to get one when they are able to sign their own contract. There are plenty of other toys I'd rather buy them.

  like what?
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  sleeper;1319593 wrote:False.

  OK - 22, then...
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  Got them for my kids when they started driving. This was before unlimited texting was available, though - we didn't add it. My nephew just howled about it - until his g/f presented her parents with a $700 phone bill the first month she had texting.
  
  There are circumstances in which a younger child might need one - I think most parents would be able to make the right call based on knowing their kids. I can's think of too many involving am eleven-year-old, though.
• Con_Alma

  Pick6;1319669 wrote:like what?

  This summer it was two Sea Doo jet skis.
• Pick6

  

  Con_Alma;1319687 wrote:This summer it was two of these.
  
  

  so you bought them something they can only use seasonally and is deadly, rather than something that is actually practical and useful all year round?
• robj55

  

  Didn't get my first cell til I was 20 or so, stupid to have one that young.
• gerb131

  

  I have a friend who got his 10 year old daugher one. She is a whore.
• Con_Alma

  Pick6;1319689 wrote:so you bought them something they can only use seasonally and is deadly, rather than something that is actually practical and useful all year round?

  Yeah, I think that's what I posted. We all have one now. We had a great summer on them. My son had been interested in gettin their own ever since he got his boaters license.
  
  On the other hand, only my wife has a mobile phone. If the kids want one, they are free to get one. God Bless them. It won't come from me.
• GoChiefs

  

  se-alum;1319619 wrote:How sheltered were you guys? I was staying home by myself for short periods of time at age 11. After school my friends and I would walk to each others houses without parental supervision. At ball games and the fair my friends and I got to walk around by ourselves. This wasn't just me, it was all my friends.

  
  I refuse to allow my son to hang out with any of the few kids around here. He goes to school in another district so none of his friends live within walking distance.
• Ghmothwdwhso

  You all sound like a bunch of old men, let the kid "buy" the phone. It's another avenue that you can use to provide the idea of "responsibility and economics".
• Manhattan Buckeye

  The real issue IMO, is that a phone isn't just a phone anymore. It is a combination of a walkman (showing my age), gameboy, etc.....as long as the parents can control the data usage I don't see anything wrong with a kid of any age having a "phone", because (repeating myself) it isn't just a phone. What we used to do with 4 devices is now accomplished with 1.
• tk421

  

  buy the kid a tracphone with a $19.99 60 minute 3 month plan. That's plenty for emergencies and calling home on the few times he needs it. No 11 year old needs a smartphone, internet access, and texting.
• Con_Alma

  Manhattan Buckeye;1319823 wrote:The real issue IMO, is that a phone isn't just a phone anymore. It is a combination of a walkman (showing my age), gameboy, etc.....as long as the parents can control the data usage I don't see anything wrong with a kid of any age having a "phone", because (repeating myself) it isn't just a phone. What we used to do with 4 devices is now accomplished with 1.

  Exactly. It's a toy.
• BORIStheCrusher

  

  Ghmothwdwhso;1319785 wrote:You all sound like a bunch of old men, let the kid "buy" the phone. It's another avenue that you can use to provide the idea of "responsibility and economics".

  I make my 6 year old daughter buy every one of her toys, my 1 year old too. Not giving those freeloaders anything.
• GoChiefs

  

  BORIStheCrusher;1319848 wrote:I make my 6 year old daughter buy every one of her toys, my 1 year old too. Not giving those freeloaders anything.

  
  That's quite retarded if that's how you interpret anything anyone has said.
• BORIStheCrusher

  

  GoChiefs;1319852 wrote:That's quite retarded if that's how you interpret anything anyone has said.

  How so? I understand the idea of making someone wait to get a phone until they can sign a contract and make payments on it, I do agree it's a good way to teach responsibility. But as a parent you can monitor how the phone is used, and only costs $10 a month. It's something that could be a lot more useful than an x-box or a lot of other things parents get their kids. People are acting like if you get your kid a phone you all of a sudden are allowing them to do whatever they want and thats whats retarded.