question for the parents

I'm thinking of getting my child a cell phone. He is in elementary school and will be for several more years. How many of you have done this? I guess I could take a poll. For those that have done this is it working out for your intended purposes? Basically keeping in contact, keeping them in check when they are with their friends, whereabouts, etc. What are the ground rules that you laid out when you gave it to them?

 

My sister in law has done this for her 9 yr old in case anything happens emergency purposes, they do make cell phone that you can have like 4 numbers programmed on the phone so they cant make calls to thier friends simple ground rule is dont take it out during class leave it in your back pack no texting and use it after school to call me for a ride.

 

He is 15 in Grade 9. I got him the phone with a clear understand that all I am paying for is the phone, no long distance and no texting. If he uses those, he pays. And the phone is off during school hours. He also will pay if he goes over his minutes.

 

My wife and I got one for our son two years ago when he was nine. We gave it to him with and told himn we all share the minutes, if he wants to gab on the phone like a little girl then use the house one. We just this year got him text unlimited text messages, he sent over 8,000 last month. We have gone over our minutes ony a couple of times and both times by very little so not much trouble there. We do have the internet blocked on his phone as well as sending or receiving pictures. We got it so we can get a hold of him at a friends house, if practice ends early or somethink like that. So far we have had good luck with it, knock on wood

 

I don't have any kids, but I know well enough that TEXTING has gone wild with kids. My gawd, even the adults I work with are texting while at work (no phones allowed on production floor).
To me...texting is totally un-necessary. If you're texting, you should be paying attention to your teachers! (or doing your homework)

If you need to give them a cell phone, I'd research the options of having only incoming/outgoing calls allowed from certain phone numbers. Plain jane phone with no games, no musics capabilities, no photo taking, nothing.

It's for emergencies only and for parents to keep track of you!

It's not that you can't trust your own child, it's the fact that you can't trust all the other kids (peer pressure).

 

My junior high daughter HAD a cell phone. She used it to run me up 275 bucks in on-line gaming. She has no cell phone now.

Janster makes a point too. I lent a cell to a "friend", she ran me up 500 bucks in texting in ONE MONTH, then disappeared.

There are phones out there made just for kids, they can dial one number, receive only from allowed numbers, and dial emergency numbers. No texting, no games. Talk with your carrier.

 

How are you going to make a 15 year old pay if (when) he runs it up to some ridiculous amount?

 

Wondering the same thing...

I have no kids, so go ahead and blast me, but I don't think ANY kid needs a cell phone. If they want one, they get a job to pay for it. Too young for a job? Well, guess you don't get a cell phone.

Just think back to when we were kids, before cell phones... What did we do? You tell your parents where you're going. Going to a friends house down the road? Your parents should have their phone number. Need to talk to your kid? Call the friends home phone. Oh, they're not where they said they were?? BEAT THEIR ASS for lieing to you when they get home!

Yes, these days are definitely different than they were when we were kids, but I think the media (and simple prevalence of media) has helped to set in this attitude of fear and iminent danger for kids. To whomever has given their kid a cell phone "for emergencies only", how many have been in actual emergencies where the cell phone was useful?

I just think that the decreasing age at which kids are getting cell phones is helping to ingrain a sense of entitlement without responsibility.

Just my two cents. Sorry if I've offended anyone....

 

Another reason for us to have one is when Tyler is with his biological father who we refer to as his Dud. His Dud has no home phone and often has no cell phone either. When Tyler is with him I want the ability to call him instead of trying to figure where they are.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. I sure learned the hard way.

 

Again, no kids here and I'm no legal expert, but seems like you could demand some sort of contact method while your kid is with him. And, should he be irresponsible and fail to meet those requirements, he gets arrested. Don't know....

 

Doubtful, the guy is a douche, he was paying $25/mo in child support, recently we had that increased to help cover braces for Ty but the guy is just a complete waste. But Tyler wants to still see his dud on occasion so I will honor that until he no longer wants to. As far as legal enforcement, I don't know. He is legally responsible to provide medical coverage for Tyler but he doesn't. And the state can't take any more money from him as he has to be left with a mininum amount to live on. Washington State seems really lax on enforcing these laws. I mean the guy was over $1000 in back support and by state law should have had his drivers license pulled but no luck. Sure is frustrating though...sigh

 

Not a parent but I don't see a need for a cell phone till kids start driving....

 

As long as it is not used while driving

 

Yes that would be a nono

 

My daughter is just 4, as of right now I don't plan on getting her a car until she can drive. As stated above if she is with friends their parents have cell phones. I do however live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, town is just 7 miles long. As times change I will of course adjust as needed. I also live within walking distance from school, so if cheer practice or band ends early she can walk or call me from a friends phone, or even the instructor.

 

Not to start another argument, but "kids" shouldn't be driving anyway. The minimum driving age (driving alone) should be brought up to a minimum of 18. If it were up to me, then it would be 21, but that's just not practical. But, 16 is just too damned young to be driving alone. Most just aren't responsible enough at that age.

 

Agreed, it scares the hell out of me thinking of the stuff we did after getting my license. Ugh, I am not looking foward to that

 

I agree 100% with you 16 it too young!

 

I don't have kids but have plenty of nephews and nieces. I can see why my brothers and sisters want they're children to have cell phones to keep track of them and for emergency uses. These days kids are very active in sports and after school activities (which is good, keeps em outa trouble), and usually theres that one parent that hauls her kids friends around and it's good they have a cell phone to keep track. I know a big part of the reason my nieces have em is because my sister is worried about them being out in the community alone. The media has us believe that there is nothing but violence just outside our front door. And on the other hand you can easily go online and discover a sex preditor lives 3 houses down the street. Poor kids these days are also led to believe that your not cool if you dont have one by other kids in school. Ive heard it first hand. Sad thing about getting a kid a cell phone at a young age is your gonna get em the basic one and a month later they are gonna be begging for the I phone.