Too young for a cell phone?

• se-alum

  

  BORIStheCrusher;1319864 wrote: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.

  Reps.
• GOONx19

  

  I got a phone when I got my driver's permit. Didn't have any reason for one before then. If you don't have landlines, though, like a lot of people are doing these days, it makes things a little more difficult.
• Con_Alma

  BORIStheCrusher;1319864 wrote:... . 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.

  I haven't seen that in people's post at all.
• Fab4Runner

  

  I managed to survive until I was 19 without one and when I did get my first cell phone I bought it myself. If I managed, so could my future children. Unless, of course, they want to buy it on their own.
• WebFire

  Ghmothwdwhso;1319785 wrote:You all sound like a bunch of old men,

  That's the way it goes. My parents thought the same thing about video games. "I didn't have those when I was a kid." Every generation will have this.
• Belly35

  

  As a parent you have to pick and choose your opportunities for your kid to prove they are responsible. By doing one thing that many not create a big problem will determine what happens in the future with more serious issue. This is an opportunity for you and a test pattern for your kid.
  Is he responsible, will he follow the rules set for the cell phone, what care will he take of the cell phone… you many not like the results or you many find he can be trusted and responsible and that a good thing.
  
  Set the rules in writing so all is clear and understanding, talk over the do’s and don’t…. if he proves to be responsible then you win, he get addition freedoms and potential upgrade, trust is created by both and confidence in each other.
  
  My granddaughter was give a cell phone at the age of 9 she was told what situation to use it, who she could call (the rules where simple and direct) and that it was not a toy and could not be shared with anyone. She is now 13 and she has a smart phone, iPod … at this point we as grandparents and her parents feel very comfortable about the aspect of driving and having a car.
• se-alum

  

  My 10yr old niece wanted a phone, and was told she could buy one with her 4-H money as long as she put in the time and worked hard getting her hog ready for the fair. She ended up with a phone and a $6000 check for the Grand Champion Market Hog. She showed plenty enough maturity and responsibility to handle a cell phone.
• Con_Alma

  se-alum;1319973 wrote:My 10yr old niece wanted a phone, and was told she could buy one with her 4-H money as long as she put in the time and worked hard getting her hog ready for the fair. She ended up with a phone and a $6000 check for the Grand Champion Market Hog. She showed plenty enough maturity and responsibility to handle a cell phone.

  That's outstanding.
• jmog

  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.

  You never played without your mommy and daddy when you were in 6th grade?!
  
  I agree that at best a non-data phone is an answer, but HS/driving is the only time one is "needed".
• se-alum

  

  jmog;1319988 wrote:You never played without your mommy and daddy when you were in 6th grade?!
  
  I agree that at best a non-data phone is an answer, but HS/driving is the only time one is "needed".

  I remember in 6th grade our parents would just drop a bunch of us off at the basketball courts and come back and pick us up later.
• Belly35

  

  se-alum;1319973 wrote:My 10yr old niece wanted a phone, and was told she could buy one with her 4-H money as long as she put in the time and worked hard getting her hog ready for the fair. She ended up with a phone and a $6000 check for the Grand Champion Market Hog. She showed plenty enough maturity and responsibility to handle a cell phone.

  Perfect .... more kids need to eat meat and kill aminals... :laugh:
• Commander of Awesome

  

  jmog;1319988 wrote:You never played without your mommy and daddy when you were in 6th grade?!
  
  I agree that at best a non-data phone is an answer, but HS/driving is the only time one is "needed".

  Its needed then? I got by just fine without one. lollogicfail
• FatHobbit

  

  I was 24ish when I got my first cell phone. My daughter was about 10. She handled it just fine.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  FatHobbit;1320012 wrote:I was 24ish when I got my first cell phone. My daughter was about 10. She handled it just fine.

  Curious, who did she call?
• Raw Dawgin' it

  

  Parents got me one when i started driving. I used to use the high school payphone to call them to pick me up after practices and away games.
• FatHobbit

  

  Commander of Awesome;1320016 wrote:Curious, who did she call?

  She had to walk to and from school and her mom wanted her to have it in case she had trouble. (It's .4 miles from her house to her school) I didn't think it was a great idea but she handled it fine. She had a few friends she texted and I don't think she ever went over, but I also don't get the bill so I don't know for sure.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  FatHobbit;1320033 wrote: but I also don't get the bill so I don't know for sure.

  Probably best that you don't lol.
• jmog

  Commander of Awesome;1320005 wrote:Its needed then? I got by just fine without one. lollogicfail

  I didn't say it was needed, just rebutted your question of "where's the mommy and daddy" question you raised.
  
  I do not think it is needed until HS to be honest. And then it is ONLY needed because almost no HS's have pay phones anymore to ask for rides home from extra curricular activities like they did when I was in school.
• hasbeen

  

  The people who keep saying "I didn't have one until I was 'blah blah' age so they don't need one" should realize and accept that times have changed. Instant gratification and instant communication is the way the world works. My parents would let me run around the neighborhood(a radius that was pre-determined by them) and I was expected to be home by dark. The majority of the time, they could see or hear me from the porch, but not always. Now, with all the bad shit, that has probably been happening forever, is getting a ton of media play, parents want to know where their kids are, immediately.
  
  That said, I don't think a kid needs a cell phone until they get into, at least, junior high. And then, it would be a shitty dumbphone with limited everything. So many kids are walking around with iphones or high-end androids, it's ridiculous.
• queencitybuckeye

  hasbeen;1320182 wrote:Instant gratification and instant communication is the way the world works.

  The latter is a fact. The former is a character flaw.
• Scarlet_Buckeye

  

  My kids will be getting cell-phones when they start driving. That's my rule.