Cell phones

[AnnieSparks]

Do you think kids should have them? If yes, at what age do you think would be okay?

My personal opinion, I wouldn't let my daughter get a cell phone until she can afford to pay for the bill.

[Peanutx3]

DH and I were just talking about this last night.  Our oldest just turned 9.  We finally broke down and bought her an iPod for her birthday.  We are not sure when we think we will buy her a cell phone.  I am kinda leaning towards maybe 6th or 7th grade and only for use of calling us.

[Kaelansmom]

It will be the same with a computer of his own.. when he is out of HS (or 18.. considering I turned 18 in HS) and can pay for it himself.

I didn't have one until I was in my 20's... i survived.

[lovinangels]

My 11 year old has one. It's very cheap on our employee plan. She uses it to text her dad, who was lying and saying he was calling her and I wasn't giving her the phone or messages. I fixed that little problem right and proper. With family allowances it's really easy to control.

[iluv2meow]

I have found having a cell is handy for me because I am deaf. When my preteen entered preteen due to sports, activities, and stays with friends it gives me comfort to know I can send a text and see how she is doing. In general if it wasnt for my disability I would probably be against them. I cannot stand how much the teens text on the damn things. It is so annoying.

[glitterteaz]

 As soon as they  start going out of town on school sports activities

[parrishsky]

My oldest son didn't get one til he was 16 (a jr in high school). The following year we got one for our middle son (he was a freshman then). My dd got one shortly after that (8th grade). I just felt since I worked and hubby was far away also working that I wanted to keep in better touch with them as they take the bus and oftentimes have activities after school. I have paid for all 3 up till 2 years ago when my oldest (in college now) started paying his own.

I try not to judge what others do but feel strongly that elementary school-aged children do not need one.

[Peanutx3]

I agree, I don't see us getting our kids a cell phone while they are in elementary school.

Quoting parrishsky:

My oldest son didn't get one til he was 16 (a jr in high school). The following year we got one for our middle son (he was a freshman then). My dd got one shortly after that (8th grade). I just felt since I worked and hubby was far away also working that I wanted to keep in better touch with them as they take the bus and oftentimes have activities after school. I have paid for all 3 up till 2 years ago when my oldest (in college now) started paying his own.

I try not to judge what others do but feel strongly that elementary school-aged children do not need one.

[1Giovanni]

 I actually bought my son a phone when he was 5. I wasn't planning on doing that until the school lost my child. He had sever speech delay and ppl had a hard time understaning him. The first week of school he was trying to ask his teacher a question about how he was getting home. She didn't understand so he walked home.

That day I bought him a cell so we can track him and/or he can call me. This year he is understand a lot more in school, so we do not use it much.

[AshMomToShawn]

When they start high school, I got my first when I started HS. I think it's appropriate, I likely wont be taking them to school at that point so logically I'd want them to be able to contact me if public transport is late or broke down or they missed their bus or if they want to go some place after school.  

[Honeybun09]

Mine can have them when they enter high school.