Would you give your 5yo a cell phone? Some info added.

[RiNKeasMom]

I'll add a poll, but I'm curious to see why or why not.

 I'm considering it for our 5 1/2yo. She does so many activities, and while I do stay there with her, for the ones where I know the people running it, I will sometimes run out for an errand while she is there. Also she is starting to go over friends houses, and I'm getting tired of all her friends calling to talk on MY cell phone, LOL. So opinions would be great even if you think its stupid, just tell me why!

I'll add a little so people don't have to go through and read some of what I addressed. She is only even left at activities where I know the person running it (since before she was born actually). I like the idea of her being free to call me, not having to go find an adult and ask them--sometimes kids just don't like to do that, and I'd rather have her free to call me if she needs too. I would definitely be programming her phone to only take incoming calls from numbers already stored so people are not prank calling her. The idea of waiting till she can pay isn't a big deal in our family, and her phone would cost me nothing as far as having it on.

 

[jillbailey26]

My 5 & 6 year old are always where a phone is.  There is no need for them to have one.

[Just_Bethy]

You said you stay at her activies where you know the people running it....Do you leave her if you don't ?? LOL ....In my humble opinion...she is to little to be left any where...but I am over protective of my kids...... I don't see the need for such a young child to be alone to need a cell phone...but each to their own...Blessed Be...

[gulfcoastmom4]

No. where is she going that you aren't with her? At 5 my kids were with me, so no they did not need cell phones.

[momsbabies]

I have a 7 DS and a 5 DD.  Neither one will be getting a phone any time soon.  If they need to talk to me and the I'm not with them they are instructed to go to the responsible adult that I have left them with and that adult can call me.

[matofour]

Nope, I have 4 kids.  The oldest is 8, then 7 and I have a 5 year old (and a 2 year old)

We are busy, and my kids do a lot. 
But, they are never left anywhere where I don't know the person in charge, and we try to stay if we can.

This year was an easy year, since my oldest are in the same age range for school sports, they played on the same team.  So, we could stay for practices.  My younger ones are not doing sports yet (next year my 5 year old starts kindergarten).  Next year we will be on 3 different sports league, which might mean a few drops offs for my older ones for sports.

But, with that being said, I still won't give them a phone, as I will know who they are being dropped off with.  If they need me, they can call.

As for when they are at their friends house, all the houses they go to have phones, so once again, I don't need to worry about it.

I personally feel at my kids age, there is simply no reason for it.

[s.t.e.p.h]

Absolutely not.

[mamalinzie]

In the situations you presented, I dont think a cell phone is necessary. 

[RiNKeasMom]

I should clarify that. The only places she is left for maybe 20min at a time are choir and baseball practice. Both of the places I know the lady that runs the choir and her coach personally very well. I'm actually over protective in the fact that even though we are close with these people I would feel better with her having her own phone to call me directly if she wanted.

Quoting Just_Bethy:

You said you stay at her activies where you know the people running it....Do you leave her if you don't ?? LOL ....In my humble opinion...she is to little to be left any where...but I am over protective of my kids...... I don't see the need for such a young child to be alone to need a cell phone...but each to their own...Blessed Be...

[BigMamaHeidi]

You need an "other" option in the poll. My husband bought a cell phone for his 5-year old son. Long story...son lives in Florida, we live in Ohio. Ex wife will only "allow" my husband to call his son once a week, on Friday evenings, at her dad's house. She wont give him her home phone number (she lives with her boyfriend and his dad) However, she often isnt there, or doesnt answer the phone, so my husband doesnt get to talk to his son. Solution? He bought his son a cell phone so they can talk whenever he wants. Unfortunately, we suspect the ex wife confiscated the phone for her own use (she doesnt have a cell phone).

[SammySJ99]

They have these cool little phones that you can program to call 2 numbers... I would give my son one and program it to call me and his dad and thats it... He cant dial because there is only 2 buttons on the phone... I think you can also track it online...