Would you let your child have a cell phone?
By GemmaR
@GemmaR (8517)
April 30, 2012 1:25pm CST
I am wondering at the moment how old a child should be before they are allowed to have their own cell phone. I was ten when I got mine, but I got it because I needed to keep in touch with some of my family who lived on the other side of the country, and we didn't have a phone in our house at the time.
I was never allowed to take my mobile phone out with me with my friends until I was in my teens and able to pay the bills myself, because there was always the chance that the phone would get broken or stolen.
What about you? How old do you think children should be before they're allowed to have their own cell phones, and what are your reasons for this?
3 people like this
19 responses
@lady1993 (27224)
• Philippines
9 May 12
I think the proper age would be 8 or 9 when the child starts school- but it shouldn't be a fancy one since it is just used as a way to communicate with the child. 
if it was hi tech, then the child would be more interested in it than the class.
if it was hi tech, then the child would be more interested in it than the class. 1 person likes this
@musicluv4life (1867)
• United States
30 Apr 12
I didnt get a cell phone till i was 14. I got mine when i started high school. Altho with the troble it can cause people and i have had friends who gotten into trouble because of haveing phones i think a child can have a cell phone when they get a job and can pay the bill by themselves.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
1 May 12
I got into trouble a lot while I was at school for having my mobile phone out in lessons. I was having a lot of trouble at home with my family and this meant that they needed to stay in touch with me for as much of the time as was possible, so there was no way that I could turn it off. I got into even more trouble because the school would confiscate mobile phones for a period of one week if they were found in school, and I didn't think that it was their place to confiscate my mobile when I wasn't in school but they wouldn't give it back to me.
@musicluv4life (1867)
• United States
1 May 12
My school used to do that to but it was only for one day then the 2nd time you got caught your parents would have to come pick it up and the 3rd time they would keep it over night and if it was a friday you lost it all weekend. which i dont see how they can do that and i feel awful for you becuase, they shouldnt be able to take it when you need to stay in touch. I had mine on on for about a week one year in high school becuase, my step mom was in and out of the hosptil because, she was pregnant and i had to know when she had the baby and it rang in class one time and my teacher was nice enough to let me go in the hall and anwser it but, most teachers in my school wouldnt have done that. But, lucky for me it didnt go off in any other class and she had the baby at night.
@vaishnavc (556)
• India
30 Apr 12
I don't think that there is a specific age or something for the kids to get a phone.It depends on how mature the kid is.If he/or she can handle it without misusing it or losing it or so.I got my phone when i was in high school.Actually i bought it without my parents knowing.Because they said that mobile phones will ruin kids.Well all parents think something like that.But it doesn't mean they are right.So see how responsible your kid is.And if you think he/she is responsible enough,Then give him/her a phone.And make it a surprise to the kid.They will love it.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
30 Apr 12
I suppose you're right, and every child will be ready for different things when they're at different ages. I don't think that I would allow my child to have a mobile phone at age 10 like my parents did, but then again I was very mature for my age and I knew that I would never lose my phone or anything like that. To this day, I have still never lost a mobile phone that I have bought, and I know that my parents in no way regret the decision that they made to buy me that phone as they felt that I was completely ready for it at the time.
@hongni55 (1)
• China
1 May 12
I agree with vaishnavc. First,the child must be responsible enough.Second,if my kid will go to high school and for away form my house,then i will give him/her a phone to make sure we can keep in touch with each other.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
30 Apr 12
I didn't have one till I was 15 and my dad had a new job which took him to a different state. Both of my brothers where in college so they couldn't see to me like normal. My mom had crazy work ours at her job at that time so I had to pretty much take care of myself feed myself make sure I got to school and home as well as to my sports. Many times I was home a lone so my parents thought it was best since I had to do a lot of things by myself that I had a cell phone to reach them at any time. If they didn't answer I would just leave a message on my phone to let them know where I was going and whom with.
Now with my own child I would never let them have a cell phone till they are teens and I would have to have a very good reason to let them have them. Right now at my daughters age she is always with an adult so there is no need for her to have one at 1 years old. I'm a stay at home mom so I have my cell phone on me at all times. Every child is different and they mature at different times. But when one of my kids get something the other ones get it at the same age.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
30 Apr 12
Needing to get in touch with family is a brilliant reason for getting a mobile phone, and it sounds like your reasons for being allowed one were pretty much the same as mine. One of the reasons that I was given one was because I have never been good at remembering numbers, so the fact that there was this machine that would remember the numbers for you was great for me, as all that you had to do was to be press the button with the name on and it would take me straight through to them; so easy and straightforward!
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
1 May 12
I'm back with remembering things. I have a learning disability but that doesn't stop me from keeping track of numbers. If you practices over and over you will not forget it. I remember our first phone number still and our second one and my cell phone number, my moms, and my dads. Anyone can remember what ever they want to if they try and find ways that work for them to remember. A human brain is able to retain at last 10 or more phone numbers in a series of set of numbers.
@BigMoney25 (1286)
• Philippines
1 May 12
Yeah I will let my future child have a phone because for me it is important he/she can use the phone for emergency purposes but I will make sure that they will use their phones responsibly and not just for texting friends all the time. Me I am not a big fan of texting, calling just sometimes but I prefer meeting up with someone instead of talking on the phone or texting.
@GemmaR (8517)
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27 May 12
One of the problems that I have is knowing when children are using their phones for the right things. Although it is good that they are able to take their phones out with them to be able to get in touch with you, there is always the chance that they're just going to be running up a huge bill by calling or texting people who they probably shouldn't be. I guess you just have to be able to really trust your children and to be able to tell when they're telling the truth about who it is that they're getting in contact with using their phone.
@daisy_dion (315)
• Philippines
1 May 12
Heheheheh Im almost in my 3rd yr in college since I owned my first cellphone. I thing the best time for a child to have is during there college life. By then your child is already good enough to be responsible for his/her things.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
27 May 12
Yes I would agree that they would almost certainly need to have a mobile phone when they were at college, as there is a lot of need to be able to get in touch with their friends and family who they will be missing from home. When I was at college, a lot of my friends lost their phones or did something which would mean that they would break, so I am not sure that I would be willing to pay for my child to have a mobile phone for this reason, but I would be more than happy for them to buy one for themselves at this point.
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
2 May 12
I didn't let my daughter have one until she was 14. I just couldn't see paying the added expense at the time. But I have seen kids as young as 7 with cell phones...and I think it's ridiculous. That's just way too young for the responsibility in my opinion. And it's too much risk for the phone to get damaged in some way.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 May 12
I would think in the teens would be the first time that a child can have his own cell phone and it would depend on whether he has a job or whether he has an allowance and knows enough not to text everyone. I would think sixteen would be a good age. By the way, I am in my 60s going on 70 and I still get upset when I see a kid about ten with a cell phone, when my husband questioned only a few years why I got one.
@surveychick4 (380)
• United States
30 Apr 12
I thought I was against the mobile phone thing at first, but I am now for it. My son has one, and it is a good way for me to keep up with him. The rules are he has to answer it anytime I call, or I will be concerned.
@GemmaR (8517)
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30 Apr 12
I got into a lot of trouble when I was younger for not answering my phone, because I had it on silent. I would go out into town after I had been at school, and I had forgotten to switch it off silent since I was at school. That made my parents worry about me, and in the end they said to me that if I forgot to turn it on properly one more time they would have to take it away from me because it was worrying them when they were unable to get in touch with me. But I learned, and was a lot wiser because of it, so I think that there are lessons about everything in life.
@Jatada (291)
• India
18 May 12
Your parents are wise enough to keep you away from mobile and i think it is good enough to have mobile phone till then when you know its usefullness and when you start missusing it than throw it away that will be really good.At that age you should have it
@rewardsinlife (1132)
• United States
30 Apr 12
I personally didn't get one till I was 16, because they really didn't exist for that much time before then, and I needed it for emergency calls only. The first phone that I actually used for texting and calls wasn't until my freshman year in college. If I had a child, I would say 14 would be the age I would allow them to get a phone.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
30 Apr 12
It's funny how times can change really. Before I got my mobile, there was no way that children needed a phone because the only way that they would be in contact with their parents while they were at school would be if they used the phone in the school office. Now, a mobile phone is seen as a kind of safety feature for when they're on the way to and from school, and children are actually allowed to keep their phone on during school so that they can get in touch with their parents if there is any reason for them to do so.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
30 Apr 12
Before 12 years old, I wouldn't get them one. It's just unnecessary showing off, and a kid in kindergarten or low elementary school doesn't even need one, because ideally they won't go out alone for too much time, and there's gonna be an adult I can call. But afterwards... I don't say it's a must, but it' be nice if I got a call when my child is coming home a bit late or if they want to stay out with friends for a cinema.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
30 Apr 12
I agree that there is a lot of a status thing going on in schools with mobile phones. I know that when I was there, people who had a less expensive phone than their friends would get bullied and told that their families were poor. However I do agree that in the modern day society when our children are allowed to go out with their friends on their own without adult company they do need a means of contacting us to let us know what is going on and the approximate time that they think they are going to be getting home again.
@Lida2010 (84)
• Colombia
2 May 12
I think the age differs according to the child's ability to be responsible. If the child is able to take care of the phone & knows when he/she should use it, such as in case of an emergency or the need to contact a parent, then I feel that in spite of the age this is more important. Communication is very important these days and being able to have instant communication with your child brings a sense of comfort. Parents know their children so it should be at their discretion when to give their child a phone.
@obey39 (125)
• China
27 May 12
Hello,friend.This is a realistic issue on child.As for me, I am allowed to bring cell phone to school at 18-year old.Maybe you will ask me why I am so late to get it?1) my family is not very rich 2)It is not my habit to weigh my wealth with my friends's, and it is in vain finally.When I really need it, I will discuss with my parents to buy it.So I think it is not easy to make a clue on when the child shoule be allowed to get cell phone,but for what purpose the child needs to get it.For communication, it is a must.For play or wealth, it must be prohibited.
Hope you understand and agree with my view
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
1 May 12
I grew up and had to get my own cellphone with my own money paying my own bill. I didn't get a cellphone until I was out of school completely, and still I don't have one unless I can pay for it. Let me tell you it's kept me from going crazy over the smartphones that so many have.
I believe a child should be 14 before they are allowed to carry one and the one they carry should be the four emergency phone. The four buttons you press who dials four places preprogrammed in. After that, at age 16 they can get their own phone as they can also obtain their own job legally in America.
@Victoria222 (675)
• Russian Federation
1 May 12
i think i would allow my child to have a cell phone at the age of 14. but it is not possible. because they alredy have it at about 8. the cell phone is harmful for children. because they play games, communicte instead of study. of course it is a goodthing if we are talking about connnection. i will be able to know where my child is. :)
@leizldelosreyes (141)
• Philippines
1 May 12
I think it's reasonable enough to give your child a cellphone when you think he/she is already responsible enough to take care and handle it. I personally got a cellphone at the age of 13 years old. But I was never allowed to bring it when I'm out with my friends and I can't bring it at school. My mom was really strict at that time. Until the time came that she allowed me to have it where ever I go. She gave me one for situations when she needed to contact me right away. So far, I owned a lot of cellphones and to be exact, I already had 8 phones including the most recent one I have right now. And at this time, I'm planning to get a new one already. When I got my first phone, my mom gave me instructions on what and what not to do. It was a sort of an orientation on the things that I should remember when having a phone. She explained to me the responsibilities of having one. So I guess, it would be the parent's discretion and good judgement when to give their children a cellphone since they know their children well and they could give a right judgement whether the child deserves to get a phone or not. :)
@Iynna12 (67)
•
1 May 12
My mothe rthinks evryone should have a mobile phone starting from 9 yeal old child.In urgent matters you should have a phone to phone. I am absent-minded and as usal I awlays leave my keys at home
@riempie9 (1021)
• South Africa
1 May 12
My kids are grownup now, but when they were around nine or ten I gave each of them one of those small little leather change purses one buys at a bag shop and put in a two dollar Canadian note, plus a quarter, to make a phone call home if there was an emergency or anything was wrong. They were not to touch this two dollars or the quarter and I asked frequently to see it and as time went by they forgot all about it and a few years ago we found the little change purse at the back of the cupboard and the money was still in it. To answer the question, I would most certainly buy my kid a cell phone to keep in touch and in the case of emergency, but it would be the most basic one without games.
