Cell Phones and Kids

[KBevangelist]

This afternoon I get a nice little phone call from my nephew who is about to be 9.

His other grandmother bought it for him for making Honor Roll.

I think this is a little too young to have cell phone.

What are the ages your kids got cell phones and what is your opinon of this?

KB

[Alan]

well my 16 and 17 year old nephews don't have them and my kids sure don't (of course they are only 18 months and 3 yrs). I see the pro's of having a teenager with a cell phone, but at the same time it annoys me to see a teenager sitting in the back of the church texting.

[Shellie]

My daughters both got cell phones when they started driving and playing sports in high school and they traveled to away games. When they were in middle school, they took my phone with them to an away game only if I could not attend the game for some reason. Since, I very rarely miss a game, this was not too often.

I've got an 11 year old who doesn't understand why all of her friends have phones and she doesn't. Personally, I find it ridiculous. Just one more thing to take kids away from childhood, schoolwork, and family fellowship.

[Penny]

Both of my kids have a pre-paid at 13.

Mainly b/c they both are in band, are staying after school for extra band practice. So they can call me if the practice ends early.

Daughter is 15, she is in Marching band I am glad she has one, she has to go to all the away games, and she is able to call me if she needs to.

I have a rule, If you use your time up before it is due, YOU have to pay for it.

Lindsey has never went close to her time. Joseph just got his.

[EagerBeaver]

I got my first cell phone when I was 18.

[Kevin]

I got my first cell phone after my kids were born. I guess I would've been about... in '98... I would've been about 26.

[RamboPreacher]

I got my first cell phone after my kids were born.

mee2.

I think that kids that are not old enough to pay their own bill, should not have a regular cell phone. that doesn't mean in some area's that young children might need an emergency phone to contact authorities or parents, but that is not a regular cell phone, in my opinion. those specialized phones may be a bit more expensive, but they are special use phones, and not for chatting with friends. I would have bought them computers, laptops, and high speed internet for that from home, where I can monitor it.

[dolfan]

Three boys, oldest no more than 9, on bikes all had cell phones as I encountered them a few weeks back (I was searching for my lost --- and still lost --- dog). I laughed out loud at them, in utter disbelief. They looked at me like I had a second head.

[SBW]

My fourteen year old and my twelve year old have pre paid cell phones. They use their allowance money to pay for minutes, so that holds down the amount of calls and texting to a minimum. I let them have the phones in case of emergencies or needing to get ahold of me quickly. Sure they text and call their friends, but it is at a minimum since they are paying. That may sound mean, but we all have a good understanding. They have phones and are learning some responsibility. They don't spend every dime of allowance on phone minutes.

We have a standing rule that if they misuse the phone or if it is used in church.....then no more phone

[Rob]

I got my first cell phone when I was 34.

My girls are 10 & 8 and both of them have cell phones. We are on a family plan with the "new" AT&T. My girls are both involved in a lot of extra activities at school along with being on the golf team so they can call when they are through. Other than that, they rarely care them, and they are never allowed to have them at church. Plus we have taken the text messaging off of all our phones so if they text it's .25 cents a message and we know it when we get the bill and so far after 8 months not one text message from either of their phones.

[soulsearcher]

Three boys, oldest no more than 9, on bikes all had cell phones as I encountered them a few weeks back (I was searching for my lost --- and still lost --- dog). I laughed out loud at them, in utter disbelief. They looked at me like I had a second head.

I agree. It's ridiculous. I'm seeing total elementary-aged CHILDREN with cell phones on our school campus, calling and texting.

[MacUser]

I got my young son a Tracfone prepaid (great deals on cheap talk - check it out). When he gets his allowance, good grades and/or perks for doing helpful positive things.. I reward him as a Good father does. (Then again I also just spoil as a loving father does)

It was a big deal for about two weeks and having the prepaid.. made him pay extreme attention to talk/text time. It's now not a big deal at all.. he actually leaves it at home 90% of the time.

(now my daughter is going to be 180 degree different..)

[RamboPreacher]

I got my young son a Tracfone prepaid (great deals on cheap talk - check it out). When he gets his allowance, good grades and/or perks for doing helpful positive things.. I reward him as a Good father does. (Then again I also just spoil as a loving father does)

It was a big deal for about two weeks and having the prepaid.. made him pay extreme attention to talk/text time. It's now not a big deal at all.. he actually leaves it at home 90% of the time.

(now my daughter is going to be 180 degree different..)

I still have to remind my 22 year old son (in college) to take his phone with him whenever he leaves the house.

[Alan]

I'm sure you can all imagine the uproar this school cell phone policy caused.

[TW]

I'm sure you can all imagine the uproar this school cell phone policy caused.

I like it! Imagine, a school system that really wants to educate. What a novel idea.


TW