Community poll forum: At what age should kids get their first cell phone?

They already have access to everything, you just don't know it. Unless your kids are younger than 14, you can't really, sincerely believe otherwise.

Did you use them when you were young, and do you think you might have developed better writing skills without them?

A special phone that is designed to keep in touch with parents only, with a GPS installed can be a life saver should you ever lose track of your child for any reason, and should be used as soon as the child is capable of answering the phone.

Make sure you use velcro so it stays with the child.

If you think you would never lose track of your child you can only be called ignorant and possibly even neglegent.

With predators acting rapidly, you must use every defense available today.

For those with teens, prepaid or spending limits is your answer. The GPS tracking will always be useful to see if the teen is where he/she says.

The poster was talking about emergencies, not meddling. My wife's phone has a GPS that makes it possible to tell where she is at any given moment. It's called onStar. If she is in an accident, it "phones home" and the onStar people can tell exactly where she is.

If there's some sort of GPS device on a cell phone that kids can activate in an emergency, I'm all for it.

What you are talking about makes a compelling case not to give cell phones to adults.

What I posted has nothing to do with that. If I call the onStar people and tell them that I want to know where my car is because I'm trying to find my wife, they won't tell me. It will let them know where it is if something is wrong, and will allow them to track the car for you, once you get the police involved, but that would require a good reason such as a theft or abduction. In general, though, it will allow the car to call them. Then they can help you in an emergency and know where you are.

Whether you want your wife to know your every move is up to you, but as an adult, you should be able to make that decision. If your wife wants to fit you with a collar, then the issue is your marriage, not the technology. But the issue of whether I should be able to track my kids is a very different one. If you want to make a case that a parent should not have the right to know the location of her five year old child because it violates that child's privacy, then go ahead and state your case.

I did not Say anything about a FEMALE if you read my post again.. Are you feeling Guilty ? And you know nothing about me to make the comment you made about me talking to Her. She calls me also and will talk about Nothing or something on TV for 35 Minutes.. I call that Drivel...

The odds of getting hurt in a vehicular or other accident are exponentially greater than getting kidnapped, although a quick statistical check online shows that approx. 1/2500 kids will be kidnapped with some sexual component every year. That's troubling. It's noteworthy that those aren't typically long-term abductions and that most involve teenagers though, but in any case it's not something parents want to gamble with, however much these rates have actually been dropping for many years in the US. If there were one such abduction per generation I'd worry because that's parenthood.

Nevertheless, the many, far more likely things... Including simply getting lost... Make the phone a credible asset. And not as a GPS target since that doesn't actually work well in practice, because the phone is obvious (thus disposed of by kidnapper) and it can't pinpoint location inside a "cell" to my knowledge.

What it really boils down to is that I like hearing from my kid, so I'll buy him a phone as soon as he is ready, willing, and able to have one.

As they enter high school and are involved afer school activites it there maybe times when you need to communicate and this is the easiest way. as with any privledge there is responsibilities.

Reading this forum has made me think seriously about getting my 5-year-old his first cell phone. I am wary of sexual predators, because my stepfather turned out to be one. While a phone is not really protection against evil, it's still a worthy tool, and I would rather him learn how to use it responsibly now while he's a loving child that listens seriously to everything I tell him, than wait until those teenage years when who knows if rebellion will set in.

As a NONPARENT, I can say this from only an observation stand point, no, kids should not be allowed to have cell phones. If one wants to have a cell phone, they should be 21 years of age, with certain exceptions. I can see if there is a teenager who works and gets off from work at night. Yes, a phone is necessary for that because there could be some sort of trouble. But for casual phone usage, no.

First, cell phones, (like computers) are not toys. They are tools to help out every day life in the real world. They can be a valuable tool in helping those lost find directions or get help when needed. But casual usage like in grocery stores and the like are nothing more than...well...stupid. To me, it is nothing more than to show off...''See what I got.''
I can't stand that. And the ringtones...please.
A waste of time and money.

But let's be real. I am 40 years old. I remember when I was a kid, around 14 years old. My life was not that important to warrant a cell phone. I talked to my so-called friends at school. And if I had to call one of my friends, which was only for school, my mother was right there listening to my conversation. My mother knew where I was and who I was talking to at ALL TIMES. So I figure the same thing is true now. How many times does one need to talk about what boy is liking what girl and vice-versa?

Third, the cost. People complain about the high cost of living. It is one thing to have a cell phone for the adults. But when there is one for the kids, on some plans that is an extra $50 or more. So most cell phone bills run ridiculously high, stiffling some families. Some have to get up $200 or more a month according to usage plan because they have gotten rid of their land-line phone, making it an unneccessary expense. That money could go toward paying off credit card bills, mortgages and maybe a savings account for a rainy day.

It comes down to parental responsibility. Parents today say, ''I want my kid to have a cell phone where
I will know where he/she is at all times.'' That is bunk. Because Bethany called ''Mommy'' or ''Daddy'' and said that she was at Jennifer's house spending the night, doesn't mean that she is exactly where she says. Most parents that take explanation at face value. They don't take it upon themselves to call ''Jennifer's'' parents to see for sure. For all they know, their little one could be in the middle of a crack den or at a hotel room with a boy doing God knows what.

These same parents also say,''I want my child to have what I didn't have.'' Letting them have a cell phone is a status symbol. I have seen several parents
like this. One is a relative of mine. They gave her everything, but it still didn't do any good. Let me just say that it didn't turn out well. That train of thought never pans out. I was one of the last to have a video game. I was one of the last to have designer clothes. And also I am the last of my generation in the neighborhood to get driver's license, something that I still don't have because car insurance is expensive for a first time driver. I was the last because my mother did not keep up with the Jones'. She kept up with her wallet. It was based on need.

So in closing, when a gadget comes on the market and the kids clamor for it while you savor it, ask yourself, do I really NEED it, do the kids really NEED it or do we just WANT it. If it is the latter, save your money for a rainy day.

I didn't get a cell phone until I was 19, and only because I went to college over 200 miles from home. I got it for the long drive, and I've paid for it myself for over four years. Kids should not have one until they are driving and have a job where they can pay for it. And they should use common sense and not be on it while they are driving. Luckily, they just passed a law here to make it illegal for anyone to do so. Thank goodness for that.

Ya But Im A Kid And I Have Big Old Motorola i205. i use it for just calling. if im out late its a life saver. i belive that u dont need to blow things up wioth ur phone u just need to be able to call in and out.

Kids like and need responsibility. The cell phone is a great addition to other responsibilities. They can't use it in class, they shouldn't run up a large bill, they should learn manners as to when it is acceptable to use the cell phone, it is their responsibility to have a respectable message for incoming calls going to voice mail, they learn responsibility and what to do and not do, they should respect that parent and their wishes when it comes to the cell phone.

I am from the old school. A parent should communicate with their children, letting them know what is expected of them. Not just yelling at them everytime they do something wrong but actually sitting down and discussing a particular subject. A great time would be at the dinner table when everyone in the family can communicate. Yes, everyone at dinner time. Don't tell me that is impossible because unless there is an absent parent you can sit down and have dinner as a family. Make it everyone's responsibility to do exactly that. You will be surprised how easy it is. A parent should know when and where his child is each and every minute of every day. They should know who they are with and when they will be home. again, responsibility. When my children brought home an invitaiton to a party or someone else's house. I paid a visit to that house to make sure that what the kids were doing was acceptable, that there were going to be enough parents supervising the event, if not I would offer to be one of the parents supervising. My children knew that I would make contact with the parents before hand so it was not a surprise. Something we discussed at dinner..

Kids are precious. They want to be noticed, loved, given responsibility, being accountable, honest, good manners, etc. Don't take these things away from your children, give each and every one of them an opportunity to experience all the above. Watch how your children yearn for these responsibilites. I know and you know they wont take out the garbage each and every day but at least they know they are suppose to.. Parents have other responsibilities like going to each and everyone of the open houses at the childrens school and don't forget the parent teacher conference two or three times a year. Let your child know you care, love, cherrish them. so they will be ready at 11 years old to have a cell phone and be responsible for that phone and everything that goes with it.

This is the age when the start staying out, start learning to drive a car (depending on the state), and such. I want them to be able to get in touch with me at any time. The ol' "if you don't feel you belong there, call and I'll always be there to pick you up". My kids are all > 20 at this point, and they all got cell phones at 16. They got used alot (more by their mother then me, but ... )

Just a bad habbit. An inactivated cell phone can be used to get 911 in casse of an emergency.