What is the appropriate
age for a child to have a cell phone?
Kids today
are walking around with cell phones at the age of 10. What is the right age to
get a kid a cell phone? Some say giving a child a cell phone is just asking for
trouble. Parents say it’s a way of getting ahold of their children when they’re
at a sporting event or a school function. But if your child is that young
shouldn’t the parents know when to pick their kid up? I think that kids today
are getting cell phones way too young. So I ask if you had a kid, what age do
you think is okay to get a cell phone?
22 comments:
Giving a cell phone to a child has greater implications than we often think. There are arguments for giving it to them as soon as possible, and others—just as good—for waiting. There’s no perfect age since each child matures at a different rate, and can handle the responsibilities and privileges of cell phone ownership at different times.
Shane Rasor
I think that 7th grade is the perfect age to get a cell phone. I think this because you are still going with parents or an adult because you can't drive and none of your friends can drive either. Before 7th grade you could just take your parents because you don't need to have one and sit there and be on your phone all the time. Kids are already on their cell phones enough so just make them wait. I had to problem waiting till 8th grade graduation. I absolutely think that kids NEED to have a cell phone when they turn 16 because that is when they start driving and you want your child to be safe. So I think that 7th grade of 8th grade is perfect.
Emily
I think you should give your kid a cell phone when they are in middle school. I believe that is when they are mature enough to handle it, and even if they are not you can take it right away. Middle school is when kids are maturing and meeting a lot new people,having a cell phone will allow them to stay in touch with all of their friends and stay in touch with their parents while they are out. besides all of that, everyone needs to have a cell phone now a days it really is a necessity now.
Alec Pettyjohn
I think there are positive and negative things about giving a young child a cell phone. Giving a young child a cell phone can be bad if they are on it constantly and that is what usually gets kids started on social media. There are positive things though when a young child has a cell phone. If a child is lost somewhere then they can call someone to tell them where they are. I think that the perfect age to have a first cell phone would be around 7th or 8th grade.
Shelby Walker
I believe that a child should not get a phone until they are at least in high school. Society already have problems with the internet and predators, now we are giving predators another way to get to our kids. If parents want their kids to have a phone so they can get a hold of them, if they need to check on them then maybe they should be with them. If parents are uneasy about the places their kids are going then maybe they should have a chaparone that has a phone, but I do not believe that kids should have a phone unless they have a job. Even if I were to have kids again I would not allow my kids to have a phone unless they were in high school because they would be working a job to keep it, having a phone is a luxury not a necessity.
Linda H.
Some parents give their children cell phones at a really young age, so that if anything were to happen them they can call their parents or 911, which i think is a good idea in that aspect only. I bought my first phone on my own when i was in 6th grade, and then my mom put me on her plan in 7th grade. I think i'll give my son his first phone when he's in 6th or 7th grade. Kids are always doing things or running off especially when you tell them to be ready, it can also come in handy if you yourself are going to be running late and cant pick up your child or need to tell them to wait a little longer or find another ride etc. I want to be able to get ahold of my son at all times and vice versa in case of an emergency! I have about 13 years before he's old enough, but still.
kristina young
I think the right age to give a child a cell phone is late 6 grade early 7th due to the kids finally to start doing things on their own. I think especially with a lot more after school session going on in junior high that where kids should be getting their cell phones.
I think giving a cell phone to a junior high kid is asking for trouble but I believe you have to set ground rules for them. By doing that I don't think you will have as big of problem then.
Kyle Ogle (Noon)
I have three children and I have only given them cell phones once they are mature enough to handle the responsibility and only for emergencies. Children see their friends at school everyday and at least mine are doing chores, homework, sports and playing outside after school and going to bed by 8:30pm. This doesn't leave time to be talking or texting. While I am the one paying the bill, that is how it is going to be. My youngest son is 9 and going to be 10 end of July. He is getting a phone for his birthday out of necessity. If it weren't for him needing one, he wouldn't be getting one because he just isn't that responsible. My 12 year old has one because he watches the 9 year old after school and if I need to go to the store I can and feel comfortable that he can call me if there is a problem. Just recently I caught him using his minutes for texting and was ticked. The phone is still of because he needs to understand the purpose of the phone apparently and I don't have money laying around for him to text with.
Angela Cole
I think Junior High is a good time for kids to have a cell phone. I think parent should still limit the minutes it is being used, and monitor text messages for inappropriate pictures or bullying. I think kids should be responsible enough at that age to handle it. I agree some kids i see with cell phones are too young. At one event i went to 3 young girls were on their own at a community event and they were trying to find their dad, I just thought that was wrong and that the parent should have been with them. In retrospect since his wansnt there it was a good idea they had it.
I think the right age period for a kid to get a cell phone is between the age of 13 or 14. They are getting older and doing more things with school or activities outside of school and may need to contact a parent to let them know a time change or a change of plans. It also depends on the maturity level of the child you are giving the phone to, because if the child can't be mature enough to handle that much responsibility from an adult, than they should not be receiving a cell phone anytime soon.
Shelby
I believe the appropriate age to have a cell phones is when that parent decides. Cell phones may help a lot, like kidnappings, if the parent is going to be late, or just to communicate with them. I would probably give my child a phone at like 10 or 11, and if they are younger get them phones where they can only call specific numbers, like mom, dad, grandma, and 911. That way they cant get rapped up in the bad text messaging, bullying, sexting, or anything else in that nature. But with that being said, its the parents decision and business.
-kallie
i think a child should have a cell phone at what ever age they are when they enter high school. i beieleve kids ion high school should have phones because when a kid goes into high school he or she starts to experience bigger and alot more things, such as girls and going out with friends and i believe that having a cell phone will allow he child to be able to call their parents when they have trouble or what ever the case maybe and it also aloow parents to keep track of their child. yes that is why i said the perfect age is when they reach high school because that is where they do the most growing up and the most experimenting and alot of hanging out. when i do have a child he or she will nit recieve a phone until the age of 14 or 15.
matt eiland noon
Now more than ever i always see younger children with cell phones. I personally think it is dumb. A 10 year old does not need a cell phone, they are too young to understand certain responsibilities, and the parent would end up paying so much money in the end just to provide their young child with a cell phone that they do not need. I think the perfect age for cell phone is probably 13 or 14. That is the age were most children start playing sports and are more active and always on the go. So it is right for them to have a cell phone so that the parents can keep track of where their child currently is. If the parents do not want their children to have a cell phone that young then, they definitely need one before the age of 16, around that age the child is driving and if they happen to have an accident then the child could call for help.
-Jonathon
I think that a good age to give a child a cell phone would be around 14-15 years old. Yes giving a child a cell phone at a young age can cause trouble. But it is the a good way to get a hold of your child during school functions, sporting events, or just hanging out with friends. But there is a way to control kids and their cell phones. I didn't get a cell phone until i was 14-15 years old. And it wasn't a normal cell phone. It was just one that i could make phone calls, no texting. So if parents are afraid of their kids cause trouble with their cell phones they make ones that are only for personal calls with certain people.
Slade
I think when a child hits junior high they should be able to have a cell phone. They will be involved with sports and after school activities, and will need a way to get ahold of someone to come and pick them up. They are mature enough to have one, but the parents should set boundaries with the phone, they should be able to look at it and see what their child is saying and who they are talking to.
D
I think a good age for a cell phone is when your child is in middle school. And it doesnt even have to be a fancy phone. It can just be something like virgin mobile with prepaid minutes or a phone that you can have 4 main numbers on there and that's it. It is good for a child to have a cell phone around then especially if they are involved in sports or even just walking home. It is a scary world out there and it is good for them to feel like if a stranger ever came up to them they could call 911 or there parents. It can also be good because you can punish your kids with it and take it away at anytime being your paying for it, it is just one more thing to punish them with.
Brooke
As a mother, I plan on giving my children cell phones when they reach middle school. At the time, I think they should be mature and responsible enough for them. However, i do plan on getting them a plan where the minutes are limited. I will explin to them that the phone will be for emergencies only. I dont want any extra features on the phone. text messaging, internet, etc. Having these sorts of features on the phone may cause them to be in trouble. especially in school. I know many people (because i am guilty of it myself) who are on their phone the whole class period. I dont want my kids cell phone to be used at inappropriate times. Middle school will and should be the perfect time a child has a cell phone. any time before then may be too early.
Kiara D
I think 8th grade-starting high school is appropriate for a kid to get a cell phone. I think by the time you are in 8th grade is when kids are able to start being dropped off at movies by themselves and go to events by themselves, and would therefore be a good age to get them a cell phone. In my family, no one was given a cell phone before high school; if you wanted one you could buy a prepaid one with a little card you'd have to buy to get minutes on. I was stubborn and did that, and it was the biggest waste of money of my life. Not that I didn't use it, but because every message was so expensive, every minute was expensive because it wasn't on a plan. The earliest I would buy my child a phone is 7th grade and I hope I stick to that when I finally do have children.
Bryanna
I think 10 is an appropriate age for a child to have a cell phone. My nephew is only 5 and he has a cell phone. He has it because he stays with his mom, and her and his dad don't get along, so they agreed to let him have a cell phone. Now days kids should have cell phones for safety reasons. Kids are coming home by themselves at a young age. Now however I do believe that they should be limited to the use of the cell phone. Kids 10 and under shouldn't even be talking on the phone that much.
Emmanuel Tyler
The appropriate age for a child to have a cell phone is when they get into junior high. Which is probably around the age of thirteen or fourteen. Yes, the parents should know when to pick their children up, but sometimes sporting practices or events end up being longer then planned, different location, or cancellations. Kids are getting way to young to have cell phones that's why parents should wait until their a little bit older.
Alexis H (noon)
I think that highschool is the perfect age to get a cell phone. I think this because you are still going with parents or an adult because you can't drive and none of your friends can drive either. I think this because before that parents know everything their kids are doing therfore their kids dont need to be consumed in a phone already. Kids are already on their cell phones enough so just make them wait. I had to problem waiting till 8th grade graduation. I absolutely think that kids NEED to have a cell phone when they turn 16 because that is when they start driving and you want your child to be safe. So I think that highschool is the perfect age or maybe in 7th if your in a sport so that way you could contact parents when coming home from games.
Brandan McD
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