What age of a child do you think its okay to give him or her a cellphone?

I wouldn't give a 6 year old there own cell phone at all. My children are 23 months and 4 months old. Neither have cell phones and neither need a cell phone for any reason. I can't see why a 6 year old would need a cell phone who the heck are they going to call. Nobody! So I wouldn't give my kids any till they are teens and can show me that they are responsible

Even though many conservative minds hate the idea of giving their children cell phones, you can't deny that it is part of our society today. Yes, you may have grown up 40 years without a cell phone, but so did many of the people around you back then. It's like a crazy trend that is polluting our young! In my opinion, cell phones could be given to children.. probably around junior high school, but definitely not during elementary school. It should be unnecessary since the parents (should) have their eyes on their kids before and after schools. I think the main thing that ruins a kid is their unlimited internet, access to wifi, and texting. They can spend all day sitting on the couch and have the entire world at their hands. So unproductive! Thus in the end, giving your child a cell phone during teen years is fine.. but they should not be given all the unlimited features until they are almost an adult.

I don't consider age is a deciding factor for me to give my child a cellphone, of course before i give him or her a cell phone, i have to make sure he can talk clearly and able to use it correctly before all else, i have to make sure he is going to place the cell phone beside his mouth and ear, not inside his mouth. If he is going to be away from me most of the time and out of normal reach through land line, then i will have to give him a cell phone in order to talk to him. If not, i probably will not give him any cell phone, wait until he is fully grown; buy his own cell phone and pay for it himself.

I think technology is running so fast now days that the kids are in urge to act like they are handicap if not given a particular thing. There were times when we waited to meet our friends. When there letters to post and we waited months for them to arrive to us and there was excitement to read them. But now things are changed. It is some what on us to decide when we should sophisticate our children with the gadgets. There isn't any particular age for it, but you have to decide how much your kids are matured enough to handle situations with wise minds. And not misuse the freedom and facility given to them.

Hi, A child should not be given a cellphone. Let him acquire it by himself as soon as he finishes school and has a job or other income generating activities. It is not proper to have this kind of gadget to small ones who do not yet even know how to spell its name.

As late as possible. These phones are creating many side effects (like student losing their concentration power ,etc. ) and damage their not fully develop the mind as compare to peoples mind which is fully grown.I think below 18 years of children should not have this.

Hi bulastika, during my childhood cellphone was not available. It's costly to install land phone as well. It's lucky that we could use the public telephone by inserting coins to make call. It's convenient to have telephone booth near to our house Nowadays cellphone has become very popular. Whoever can own a cellphone as long as he or she knows how to use it. Therefore it doesn't matter what age the kid is so long as the kid can operate it nicely. I can see kids are smarter than some elderly in using cellphone Happy posting

I used to say that kids shouldn't have cell phones but I'm leaning a little more towards them having one at a certain age. I think if you are going to give a kid a cell phone it depends on the age and the maturity level. My daughter is 10 and I let her use my old cell phone part time. She doesn't go over her minutes or texts, she actually kind of got bored with it. But it was nice having her use it when she stayed over at a friends house or went to a friends birthday party that we didnt' know so well. I was able to text her to make sure things were going good. Yes many of us grew up without them but thats because back then it was very new technology. And think of the good they could do with gps technology in the phones. If your child got lost or kidnapped and had a phone it might be possible to locate them with their phone.

I too was raised without having a cell phone and I turned out just fine! I didn't get a cell phone until I was pregnant with my oldest (she is now 6). I honestly don't see my daughters (3 and 6) getting a cell phone until they are responsible enough. Also I don't see why my boyfriend and I should pay the bill for it either. We are thinking once they are working and can afford it on their own. We may get a cell for emergencies like if one of us goes away for a weekend or something, or so you aren't stranded in a car with no cell phone to call for help if their is trouble! BUT their is a big difference between that and having their own cell phones.

When they reach 13 are a parent that know his/her child is responsible.because when i children have cellphone now.They loose concentration,an become addicted to it.As many parents give their child/children cellphone in case of emergence.My 6 year old ask me for a cellphone,and i ask why do you want a cell phone?His response was so that i can call you when school is over an i can play games on the phone.And i told him no,because he doesn't have a cellphone he can use mine play all the games he want.When he is older ,he can get a cellphone.I grow up without cellphone,I got my first phone when i was 17 years.

I don't feel that a young child should have a cellphone, as they wouldn't be responsible enough to have it, nor would be old enough to use it. My grand kids don't have cellphones, at least my son's kids don't as he feels they are just to young and they don't need them right now, and he is right. My daughter however, let my oldest grand son have a phone way to young, as he definitely wasn't responsible, and at 17, he still isn't. It really makes no sense to me at all. To top it off, my son in law has a phone that doesn't need as he isn't working so therefore she has a very expensive bill every month, well over $200.00. I never let either one of kids have cellphones when there were younger, as they didn't need them. Now it is the commone thing for both, now that they are adults. I would never let a child have a cellphone. Take care, and have a good day.

My kids started using a cellphone when they were about 10 years old. I feel that they are old enough to take care of their own cellphones and also I really wanted to be in touch with them whenever they are not home.

I guess it's alright to give a child cellphone if he know how to use it. It's a one way of getting you're communication better. You can always give him a call and check if he is OK. And nowadays it's becoming a trend. Almost everyone has a cellphone. Why not give your child one?

I think a child should be around 12-13 years old to get a cell phone. child at this age range tends to hang with their friends more often then staying at home. So parents could only keep an eye on them through cell phone.