what do you think about children under13 years old using a cell phone?

i have been fighting with my x girlfriend about this lol she gave our 10yo boy a mobile i think it is shocking although my 13yo girl dose i find it is ok in the face that she takes it with her to go to the shops but i do not let her take it to school

I don't believe children under the age of 13 has any business being alone. Not so much that they need a cell phone. Leaving them alone in their room while an adult is in the house or having them play in backyard when an adult is in/around the house is hardly considered being alone. I know there might be an exceptions but they would be far in between. I figured a child should get a phone when they are old enough to drive.

Giving a child a phone at any age is a risk. However parents are giving their children phones younger and younger. I personally do not understand why a parent would give a child a cell phone. Especially a young child. Not only have they yet to be taught how to be responsibility, for such a device, but why would a child need to text or talk anyway? Who do they need to talk to so bad that they can't go to the land line or their parents? I can understand when a child gets a driver's liecence and the family may only have one, maybe two cars. Being able to contact your teen may be ecentual, but what would a child under 15 need a phone for? How active are they that they wouldn't be somewhere in reach of a phone? All points considered, when you the parent are carting your child around, you would obviously know who they are with, where they are going and when to expect them. The same can be said for after school activities. Schools in general try to ban the use of cell phones during school hours and after school events. In doing so, those events the phone is virturally usless. Schools have phones kids can use to contact a parent if plans change, so why would they need to text, or call anyone else? You would figure their friends in general would probably be at the activity, or in school elemaniting the need to talk on the phone. Yet, children seem to abuse the phone. In a movie "picture this" I would see kids using their phones within a few feet of each other, standing right within feet of each other. I can understand getting lost, but this is one ridicoulous level. I mean seriously. Adults often don't prove to set better examples. I am well aware of parental controls. However, kids often to be more tech savey then their parents. Most could disarm most parental controls and know how to use the internet better than their parents. I'm talking kids as young as ten and younger. So giving them a cell phone, setting parental controls... pointless. If you're that insecure knowing your child would abuse your bill, then don't give the device to the child. Plain and simple. Parents use common sense here.

Well, they can as long as they are still responsible in terms of studies and they are responsible of taking care of gadgets like cellphones because no matter how cheap they are, you still need money to buy one. Nowadays, every cent counts so think a lot of times before giving a teen a cellphone. I like giving my teen who is turning 14 this January 2011 but she is still acting like a small child. Our television remote control for example. She always tend to release it from her hand while so engrossly watching the show on television. Just imagine if that was a phone, it would have shattered to pieces. Good thing that our remote control is still intact. Until she learns how to control her grip and knows her responsibility as a soon-to-be adult then that is the time I'm going to give her any gadgets she wants.

Unless the child had to walk alone at any time I suppose it is necessary with the way things are these days, but outside of this. No, no cellphone these kids have no idea how it costs when they over the limit. They will! With texting, and application downloading they have no idea how that bill runs up month to month.

I think it would just be fine to let them use it just for emergency purposes. It is the responsibility of the parents to teach and guide the children on the proper use of cell phone. If you can't handle guiding them then don't give them a cell phone. But it would really be very handy, just in case of some emergencies.