I fought the battle for a while. I was amazed at how many kids actually had their own cell phones. Seriously, I didn't even have a cell phone until last year! My kids knew how I felt about the need for kids to have cell phones and never really bugged me about one. Any time they would be in a situation where they may need to reach me or me reach them, I would give them my cell phone. This worked out well. Then my son entered middle school. Everyone, and I mean everyone had a cell phone. What would these kids do 20 years ago? I honestly do not think many of them would know how to use a pay phone or for that matter even know what a pay phone is. I noticed recently that I hardly even see them anymore. When my son started middle school and a more active social life I started realizing the benefits (to me) of him having a phone. I finally broke down and succumbed to this digital world. I have to say it is very convenient to be able to reach my son at any time I need to. With this though comes the negatives, texting and all it's problems. Gone are the notes we used to write in school. It is all about the phone. Do you think kids should have cell phones?
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10 opinions:
My now 17yr old son got one when he was about 13, my daughter got one just before she started secondary school (age 11) and now my just turned ten year old tells me all her friends had one since they were 8. (All one actually). It was useful being able to contact my son but the downside was that he was always being mugged and having it stolen. I think the reason I didn't have that sort of trouble when I was a young teenager was that I never carried anything of value. A mobile phone is a two edged sword it makes your child safer and more vulnerable at the same time!!
We were against it at first but when our younger girls started middle school they were 45 minutes away and we felt better with them having them. It does offer some peace of mind. Until your daughter gets a new boyfriend and sends 2400texts in 1 month at 5 cents each because you have a 100 text limited message plan. Had to call, whine and re-up for 2 years to get a retroactive on an unlimited plan!
I think it's unique to each family's situation. Where I live, there are a lot of places where they dont even work. My oldest son who is 11 hasn't asked for one and also knows that I feel he doesn't need one yet. He's very rarely in a situation where he needs one. I do think there are many, many parents who buy them for kids too young. Kids need to be able to handle the responsibility that comes with owning a cell phone.
I'm all for the cell phones when they hit middle school and possible earlier if they have a lot of activities/walk home from school/etc.
I'd love knowing that they can reach me whenever they need too and vice versa.
I would be totally against it if my daughter didn't go to her dad's every other weekend. She uses it to text me and only me and that is nice since he rarely lets her call home when she is there.
Kids get them younger & younger... I work with the youth in my church & pretty much ALL the MIDDLE school kids have phones! And they are nicer then MINE!!! What the heck?
My opinion was always that there shouldn't be a cell phone for my kid until she was driving. Then it would be for emergencies. For the past four years we haven't had a landline phone. My husband has a cell and I have one. I can't figure out what my daughter will do when she gets to phone talking age. Will she have my cell phone all the time? Wouldn't it make more sense to put her on the family plan? The cell companies make it so cheap to add another line, I think they're interrupting my ability to be a tough parent!
I am FAR away from making this kind of decision. In theory, I don't like kids with cell phones, but it would be very conveinient in certain situations for older children and teens.
The other issue is that these days, at least in Sydney, there are not many public payphones around. I wouldn't want my child to be in a situation where they needed to contact home and couldn't.
I like the idea of the pre-paid phones though - no sneaky big bills thank you.
I don't think kids should be given one unless there's really a need. My kids know how I feel about it and they never bugged me tho' everyone else had had one since they were like 10 or 12. My eldest got one when he started college and I have to agree it makes things much easier when I need to pick him up, etc.
I met my children in the middle on this one. They have a cell phone but they can only text on it. The studies I've read are concerned with radiation because the phones are held so close to the head. I also don't let them charge their phones on their nightstands. They charge them on the other side of the room. Little things can make a difference.
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