children and cellphones?

[allye]

Do you agree or disagree to this? And I don't mean giving a kid a cellphone with a plan?
We bought my 13 year old a cellphone for his birthday, and its prepaid. He knows that once his time runs out , he has to buy his own time. But we have received flack for this because of his age , etc... But we thought it would be a good idea to keep tabs on him, etc...

But what do you think about this?

[Sweet_Fantasy_Fox]

i think its a great idea in the case if any emergencies come up, they always have a way to get in touch with mom and dad or the police.
my sister has a phone and is 13 also, i see nothing wrong with it
I think it's a smart thing to do!

[TwinKristi]

I have been considering getting my almost 10yo's the kids type phones with pre-programmed emergency numbers (mom, dad, grandma, 911, etc) through Verizon. I think its called Firefly or something. I've been telling them when they're 10 for a long time but now that's like 5 months away and I don't think they're mature enough. We'll see how 12-13 looks! LOL

[mama23boys]

my sds (9 almost 10) and ds (11 almost 12) both want one but they dont ever go anywhere without us so it seems pointless to us.

but if they do out a lot without us then i would probably consider a prepaid one with the GPS on it.

[pinkflamingos77]

IMO..

My kids will not have cell phones until they are 16 and then it will only be used for emergencies or to call us. They will not have them to just call whoever they want..whenever they want. I grew up without a cell phone and I found ways to call my mom. I got one a few weeks ago. It is pay as you go. It is verizon and I have used it maybe 10 times. I think cell phones are out of control!

[SandyG]

like Lysa, i didnt have them growing up , its not necessary.
he can call me using a landline. if he gonna be stranded in a desert island, yeah ill get him one ONLY if he is responsible enough.

[urchin_grey]

Well, we don't do landlines anymore. So DS will probably grow up thinking that all phones are cell phones. LOL Its just a phone though... I think (from talking to moms IRL) that parents have this idea that its something that only "big kids" or spoiled kids should have but its just not that big of a deal to me. I've heard moms say "OMG I can't believe so-and-so got a cell phone for their 12yo". Erm, its phone, not a crop top and mini skirt! Aren't your (general) kids allowed to use the phone at home? No different to me... sorry.

So, yeah, I totally agree with you. Although, if I knew my DC would earn it I would opt for adding him onto my family plan... Those prepaid minutes are OUTRAGEOUS and its *very* easy to run out of money very quickly. I had to use prepaid once after the hurricane here and I wound up spending WAY more than the phone I had with a plan because the prepaid automatically charges you $1 a day, plus what you spend talking.

[Sweet_Fantasy_Fox]

i have a pay as you go phone and only refill it $20 every 3 months, its only 10 cents/minute.BTW is a boost mobile
i agree with carly, its just a phone

[Psychomom]

My daughter's friends had cell phones in second grade. She's in fourth grade now and most have cell phones. She doesn't; there isn't a need yet. Once she is in extra cirricular activities without me present, then we will probably get her one. For now she is only in gymnastics and I watch her at every practice.

[Hayley]

I am sorry but the whole brain damage thing is nuts, why would just kids get brain damage from cell phones? Post links to facts before making comments like that. I am not picking on you just a though is all.

IMO if and when Noah is old enough to go to his friends houses by himself I will be giving him a cell phone to take with him. Because we don't have a home phone and like many ppl I would just assume that the friends parents don't either.

I don't intend for my kids to be on the phone more then they need to anyway. Believe it or not I am not a phone person anyway and I suspect my kids won't be either, just a guess.