Cell phones for young kids?

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exercise forever

Cathlete
Hello everyone,

I have my opinions and rules about this, but was curious to what others think about this. My son and daughter will turn 14 in Nov. and they have wanted a cell phone from seeing their cousin and others at school with them. I told them that at their age they have no need for them because they have no one to call that they can't call on the home phone. I think it is one of those trend things where he she has one. I agree that if a child has a away game sport that it is a call for that.

I never cared for them and my dh brings one home to me to keep for car emergencies. Boy did my kids eyes light up! They thought it was hands on. But I told them that when they turn sixteen and have a car and job that they could have one. Boy you should of seen the frown on those faces!


Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying a parent is wrong for letting their child have a cell phone I just don't understand it. I am just curious on how others feel on this, parents or not.



Thanks,

Kim
 
Hey MJ,

I think along the lines as you, because those things can be costly especially if they go over the minutes. My dd has a cousin who got one when she was 14 and she is constantly grounded because of going over minutes. And she is using the cell at her home when she could be using the home phone. She should have that ripped from her hip IMOP!



I think it is alot of responsibility for a person!



kim
 
I know that some parents get thier kids phones and are willing to pay for them because it is a security blanket for the parents. A way to "keep tabs" on thier kids at all times. Others have them simply because they wanted them and they just always get what they want wether it be good or bad...I have not made up my mind on this issue yet...I can understand the arguments on both sides (to have or not to have). I myself only have a cell phone "just in case"...I rarely ever use it.
 
We had a second cell phone added to my account when our second son turned 16, since he was going to be out on the road, we wanted contact with him, also for when he started a summer job.
We did have to put block on texting though.

Rhonda
 
My oldest is 14 years old. He uses my cell phone when he's out and I need him to call me to let me know when to pick him up after soccer games or other activities. Otherwise, he just uses our regular phone.

Erica
 
Well, my husband and I as well as my both sons have cell phones. We have a family plan where we use no minutes at all when calling each other. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, it doesn't use any minutes to call others on the same that we have. We have 4 people sharing the same minutes and we never go over. My youngest son, 17, likes to text message a lot and that was also added to the plan to keep costs down. I also use the text messaging. Sometimes I need to get in touch with my sons while they are at work. They are not allowed to talk on their phones while working, but at least I know they get my messages. Also, with the things that have happened at schools in the past (shootings, etc), I feel more comfortable with my sons having phones handy for emergencies such as those or if they are out late at night and their car breaks down.

I also like to joke with my husband, saying that I'm glad I didn't have a cell phone when I was a teenager because, believe me when I say, I call my sons a lot whether they are with friends, on dates, etc. ;-)
 
Couldn't live with out it. It's GREAT if they get out of practice early...

Once they drive it's WONDERFUL to know where they are.

I can't imagine NOT having cell phones
 
I have a 14 year old too, that I "keep tabs" on. She's busy with several extracurricular activities such as band & debate so she has to be outside the home a few times a week. A cell phone is a godsend when it comes to knowing what time the she's ready to be picked up after a game or a practice session.

Also, since she walks to her friends house occasionally, I'd like to know I can always reach her or she that she has access to 911.

I must say, she is a very responsible teen & doesn't abuse it.

Marla
 
I think it's a bad idea. Most kids at 14 are not responsible enough to have a cell phone. By the way my younger brother always wanted one when he was a teenager because he saw me with one but I was older than him, I payed for it, and I used it only for emergencies. My dad got him one and then he had to pay a lot of $$$ because he went over the limit of minutes on the family plan tons of times, then my dad got him his own cell phone LOL bad idea too it cost my dad even more money in extra charges. My dad ended up cancelling my brother's cell phone number and now that my brother is married got one and is paying for it himself. My dad lost a lot of money in extra charges and late charges because of my brother and his cell phones. If you're not able to see your kids during the day and it's a must that they have a phone for emergencies, then you can get them one (just one, if it is for emergencies they can share it }() and a phone card where you're in control of the minutes they use and you pay as they use them.
 
Both my kids have cell phones. Because of the prevalence of cell phones there are very few pay phones out there.

The kids each have Tracfones. I buy the one year card which gives them 150 minutes, anything over that comes out of the allowance. They can never "go over" as the phone will cut them off.

There are other pay as you go companies as well.

There have been abuses. My daughter got caught text messaging classmates during school, the hi tech version of passing notes. The school has come down heavy on phone usage outside of established break areas, which I fully support.

Now if I can only get them to call me when they're going to be late!!!

Dave
 
My 13 year old walks home from school every day. You bet she has a cell phone. She's on my plan and she's not a phone talker (she'd rather IM people) so we do not have issues with minutes, but that will probably change as she gets older. When it does, it will become a lesson in budgeting.
 
My son is 14 and has had a cell for a year. We have it more for ME than for him; I want to be able to reach him. His dad and I are divorced so he spends time over there and also at my sister's after school (she is very close to the school so he goes there afterwards). He has been very responsible for this and rarely uses it unless it is to call me or his dad.

I travel a lot for work and have been stranded on the side of the road several times; without my cell, I would be there for hours! I think these are awesome and necessary devices!

Marie
 
I definitely agree that all kids are different. I had said that we all have cell phones, but didn't mention the ages of sons when they first got theirs. I think my youngest was only 14 when I gave him his first cell phone. He was really into skateboarding at the time and was always out with friends walking around the neighborhood and skateboarding. I can only remember one time that our minutes went over and it was not him on the phone, but a girl friend of his. I actually saw her on his phone one night, and she would not give it back until I told her to. Other than that one time, neither of sons has ever went over their minutes. I do think they can be very responsible if given the chance.
 
It's really your call.

I can easily see a 14-year-old racking up a big cell phone bill with completely unneccessary calls.

On the other hand, they are good for emergencies.

Is there anyway you can get a pre-programmed cell phone that will just call certain numbers (your home phone, your office phone?).

Why do your kids want cell phones, beyond the fact that "everyone else' has them? If they have a legitimate use for them, then you might want to consider it.

I personally think kids these days are too spoiled and used to having things they don't really need.

But I also think that most adults don't need cell phones except for emergency situations (definitely NOT to yack on while driving!).
 
No negativity meant here but I often wonder how my mother was able to raise me without a cell phone and I was able to raise my daughter without a cell phone.

I think we are MAKING them a necessity for children.
 
Both of my boys have cell phones and since one of them was broken for a few weeks - I realized just how much I like them having them. I am a single parent and it is a comfort to me to know that when I drop one son at practice and take the other one across town to his practice - that I can reach him and he can reach me. Especially when practice gets out early or something comes up. Not to mention tracking them down when they are out playing with friends and 'forget' about practice... :)

I have a family plan that shares minutes - minutes between us are all free. Both of then are also very good about finding out what service their friends are on - and they know that they can talk unlimited to people on the same service without using any minutes. Text messaging was an issue one month when they first discovered it - but has since been corrected.

I can see how people would think it is an indulgence - but I also remember when I was a kid and would run around the neighborhood with my friends and my mom would never know where we were - and granted times were different then - but then again - another reason to have a cell phone now.... times are different and a comfort to me to know they can call me at any time and I can reach them.
 
The mobile phone issue varies from family to family.

Our older children didn't get phones until they were driving. The third child has one at 14 and we feel it is a good decision. She does not have text messaging.The purpose for her to have a phone is to get in contact with us. She also uses it to chat with her older siblings who are in school out of state.

Our 12 year old doesn't have one yet. We do know several 12 year olds who do. It is not out of reason, in some instances. For example our 12 attends a jesuit school in another town, and at times his transportation needs change suddenly.

Judy "Likes2bfit"
 
You can avoid the "racking up huge phone bills" with a pay as you go plan.

Keep a minimum of units on it, if it gets lost or stolen you can buy another cheap.

Walmart sells a Tracfone for about $30

When I was a kid there was a pay phone at every major corner. Now there are few and far between. It used to be only a dime to call now its $.50 or more. If you think a cell call is expensive, how expensive is an operator assisted collect call. I did not make a cell phone a necessity but it sure became one in the last few years.

Dave
 
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