How old should a child be before he can get his own mobile phone?

a lot of kids have them but when they are too young to actually need one it is just the phone company trying just to profit from kids. if they have one then you can keep in contact with them wherever they are so if they are out in the evening you can ring them which is great. also you know if they are in trouble anywhere they can ring home or the police. th e only problem is the people who steal these phones so you have to teach your children to use them safely.

5 years old is way to young to have a cell phone.but i think a 12 years of age is a good age to have a cell phone.it really depends on the child.if they are mature enough to accept responseabily of haveing a cell phone.i feel they should have one for protection.i bought my grand kids one for xmas.just in case someone trys to take them from their bus stop.or kidnap them an plus all the school shootings.this way they will have a way to call someone.

Ten to twelve years old is already good time to have your child a mobile phone. Cellphones can be very helpful for them especially if you want your child to be monitored all the time. You can easily track them where they are going if your mobile phone has GPS. As long as you think your child really need the thing then why not them have it.

i gave my kids their own cell phones at the same time. my son was then 14 and my daughter was 11. i think when your child is responsible enough you could get him a phone. it is important too so that you can keep track of him, and talk to him when you need to. :)

My 10 yr old wants one. Several of her friends have one, but I do not feel she needs it.We are almost always together except when she spends the night at a friend house and they would have a phone. If she starts to go places with out me then it is time to think about a cell, not before. I see no reason for it other than wanting to have one cause someone else has one. They are not toys and really shouldn't be marketed that way. I can't see a 5 yr old needing a pjone at all. When would he be away from his parents other than the time he is at school. I am sure if he is at a sitters home they should have a phone, and if not, the sitter needs a phone not the child! I told my daughter we would talk about it when she reaches 12. Then she is more likely to go places with friends besides their homes. I would also get her one if she goes to her father.. He has supervised visitation because he drinks and I would want her to be able to call if he started drinking and she wants to come home. But he rarely calls to see her and so it really is a moot point. You know your own child, if they need a way to get a hold of you when they are with others, then yes it is feasible. I advise against a camera phone though. My friends 14 yr old had a lot of graphic pics on hers and they were all from friends, not some pervert that got her #. These are definitely for adults only!

My daughter has had a phone since she was 12. When she started to go places with her friends, without an adult (the movies, the mall) it seemed it was time to have one. She has a pre-paid and if she uses up the minute card I pick-up for her before the month is over, she has to buy her own minutes.

i think its a matter of whether the child really needs a cell phone. Pay phones are available at almost every nook and corner so children can use those. I definetely think that cell phones should be banned in school. So i would give my children a cell phone at around 15-16. That i feel is the right age. Earlier than that would be a total waste and extravagance

as we all know that mobile phones are not for children,s use as mobile phones emmits harmful radiations which can hamper there overall development.if you ask me then i think mobile phones should not be handed over to them till the age of 15.giving cellphone to a 5 years old child is completely unnessasary as 5 year old cant even speak properly.cellphone is not just an gadget,its more than that.so it should be handled with care.

It really depends on the child. SOme 12 year olds will prove quite irresponsible and not able to keep a phone. Other's however, will be fine with one. I really like Disney's new phone, where it has a gps system, and you can program minutes into the phone, if they go over their minutes, it cuts off, and they dont get anymore until the next month. Also, you can keep track of all calls made. But I really feel like anyone younger than 10 should def. Not have a phone, and even ten seems young. Idon't forsee a 10 year old being out w/out thier parents or other parental supervision that much, where they would need a phone.

I think 5 is way too young for a kid to have a cellphone. Where would they be going that someone would need to call them? LOL! My daughter is 8 and we haven't gotten one for her. Maybe when she's like 2 or so if she's doing something like afterschool activities. Then she would have use for it like when she needs us to pick her up.

It all depends on what they are using it for. I gave my daughter a cellphone and she's only 6, but the reason I did that was to keep track of her when she's out playing with her friends. She would tell me she is going to one friends house, then end up at another friends house. This way ahe can call me and let me know where she's at, or if I need her to come home I just call her. The phone she has won't let her call anybody but the people I program into it, so I don't have to worry about unauthorized calls. It gives me the peace of mind knowing where she is at.

In my opinion, children should not have mobile phones while we their parents are still held responsible for their actions, it's our job as parents to know what they are doing, who they are talking to and also to keep them safe, mobile phones jeprodise this role... some parents would argue "My son/daughter needs their mobile phone incase of an emergency or if they need me and i'm not around" well here's a news alert... i strongly believe that mobile phones should not be mobile parenting devices, if you are worried about your child being alone, then you should make sure they are not, don't put a mobile phone into their pocket and send them off into the world, cause 5 inches of plastic is not gonna save them from harm, it's your job to do that, i also feel mobile phones are evil... everywhere you go these days people are staring into their phones texting/watchin movies/playing games/downloading crap .... they are the downfall of society, no one wants to have a conversation anymore, just tap away into these chunks of useless plastic... i mean i remember there being no mobile phones in the high street, in the common household, and everyone got on just fine... i say start a new revolution.... don't buy your kid a phone... buy them some writing paper envelopes and stamps!! :-)

My granddaughter is 8 and I have been shopping for a cell phone for her. In this instance, it is because her and her mother live in an abusive relationship. Her stepdad has a very violent temper and I want her to be able to call for help. She is a very intelligent little girl and I know she won't abuse the privilege of having one but I think she should have it for her own safety and that of her mother.

Well, actually speaking, Its necessary at an early age too, provided one should believe in child....he won't misuse it. When a child actaully needs it, though not at an early age of 5, 10 or 12.....at about 15-16, he would need it, for talking to friends, especially in cases of students. But they should also not use it as a chat apparatus. Its better, because when he/she is on his/her own, he will need or you will need to contact him.

well i got it when i was 17! so wat do u think!

5 is way too young for a mobile. My son will be 13 this year and I plan to get him one for his birthday, but that is more because his sister won't be at his school anymore and I sometimes need to get messages to him if I am working late and other arrangements for his pick up have been made. If it wasn't for this I would still wait another year or 2 before he got one.

When a child can help pay the phone bill they are old enough to have a cell phone. There is no reason whatsoever for a child under 16 or 17 to have a phone.

hi, if i have my own kids, i would give him/her a cellphone when they are old enough to take care of their things. i think the best age is at 15 or 16 because it's a way to contact him/her while they're out with friends and also for emergencies. my dad bought me a cellphone when i was 15, until now i have a cellphone. it's useful to keep in touch with relatives and friends. if you dont like to give them a cellphone at a very young age, you can lend them your cellphone with permission once a while. ever since i have a cellphone, i always use prepaid card instead of line. prepaid cards helps to limit yourself than wasting money. before ending this, make sure if your kids are responsible enough to take care of their own cellphones before you can get them one.:)

Well, i was in highschool when i had my first cellphone, it's brand was Alcatel that time.. lol i was turning 14years old that time.. But now, my younger twin brothers who are 9years old have their own cellphones too.. and take note! Its Nokia 6600... they got their cp as their bday gift last January,2007... They are so lucky! that they have their own cp at their very young age... is'nt cool? Well for us, yeah it is.. Coz it could help us a lot to know where they are if they are'nt home yet after their school..

Wait until they are old enough to work for one after school at 16 or wait until they get a job after high school.