What's the appropriate age for a kid to get their first cell phone?

Enfuego · Nov 21, 2010

I don't have an opinion but would like some feedback.

soonerdawg1 · Nov 21, 2010

if they're old enough for face book, they're old enough for everything

Enfuego · Nov 21, 2010

soonerdawg1 said:
if they're old enough for face book, they're old enough for everything

I don't think you can compare Facebook to a cell phone. Also, I don't think kids are responsible enough to drive a car at 16 but put a cell phone in the mix and you have some trouble brewing IMO.

soonerdawg1 · Nov 21, 2010

i wouldn't mind seeing the legal driving age raised to 18....or maybe require some extra training someone could volunteer for if they want to drive at 16.....as far as cell phones....i don't have kids, but i know 6 year olds who have the latest cell phone technology.....

Enfuego · Nov 21, 2010

soonerdawg1 said:
i wouldn't mind seeing the legal driving age raised to 18....or maybe require some extra training someone could volunteer for if they want to drive at 16.....as far as cell phones....i don't have kids, but i know 6 year olds who have the latest cell phone technology.....

There is absolutely zero reason for a 6-year-old kid to have a cell phone.

soonerdawg1 · Nov 21, 2010

parents justify it by saying it allows them to keep tabs on what the kids are up to

Enfuego · Nov 21, 2010

soonerdawg1 said:
parents justify it by saying it allows them to keep tabs on what the kids are up to

That's absolute B.S. There is no place a 6-year-old should be without direct supervision by an adult.

Stylez · Nov 21, 2010

If i had to buy a phone to keep tabs on my 6 year old im not being a very good parent imo

Enfuego · Nov 21, 2010

Stylez said:
If i had to buy a phone to keep tabs on my 6 year old im not being a very good parent imo

I have a 6-year-old and other than at school we have 100% accountability on him all day. A 6-year-old is capable of the bare essentials but not able to be unsupervised for periods of time.

soonerdawg1 · Nov 21, 2010

so many kids have cell phones now, it would be like depriving your kid.....i would say 4 of every 5 kids i know -- let's say within the 8 to 12 year old range, have a smartphone....and the 1 in 5 that don't are pissed

Stylez · Nov 21, 2010

i agree and to answer your question id say somewhere around the 12-13 year range , but a basic phone with restrictions.

Enfuego · Nov 21, 2010

soonerdawg1 said:
so many kids have cell phones now, it would be like depriving your kid.....i would say 4 of every 5 kids i know -- let's say within the 8 to 12 year old range, have a smartphone....and the 1 in 5 that don't are pissed

My 12-year-old keeps asking me and tells me all the other kids have one. I tell him those aren't my kids and he has nothing else to say.

throwback420 · Nov 22, 2010

I think my little cuz got an I-Phone at age 9

they he broke it a year later lol

Santo · Nov 22, 2010

Frankly I think a kid learning cell phone technology these days is akin to me learning to use computers as a kid; it's becoming an essential part of recreation and work, so the earlier the better...

RobFunk · Nov 22, 2010

As soon as he/she said child knows how to use one. It's a terrific safety net.

You can call your kid anytime and he/she can call for help if something messed up happens.

Get them on the family plan and let them know it's not there to be "chatty Cathy" on.

If they are young; the kid doesn't need an IPHONE just something that can make and receive calls. You can always check the bill to see what they have been up to.

JMHO

DwayneBowe · Nov 22, 2010

wannabewhale · Nov 22, 2010

My son is 11-got one for 10th birthday
he is very responsible but we keep close tabs on bill/usage
it has been used many times for situations that were needed over the year-ie stay late at school etc
=use it as a teaching tool as he has to earn money by doing things around the house to "pay" his bill

Donnybasbl · Nov 22, 2010

My oldest daughter is 8. Half of her friends have cell phones.

She's begun her count down to middle school, when we told her we would consider getting her a phone.

WorldNumberOne · Nov 22, 2010

10 is a good age. it depends on the kid. my daughter started spending the night at friends houses a lot around age 9 and i wanted to be able to call her without calling the other kids house . i started letting her go to the mall with groups of friends around 11 and she had to have a phone then.

my kid is a little more responsible than most .

eman · Nov 22, 2010

Bought my oldest daughter her first before she started middle school. She was 10.

What's the appropriate age for a kid to get their first cell phone?

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