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Too young for a cell phone?

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GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Nov 13, 2012 4:43 PM
So my wife is pissed because I won't let our 11 year old son have a cell phone. IMO, there is no need for anyone that age to need one and it's just too young.

At what age do you feel is appropriate for a phone?
Nov 13, 2012 4:43pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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27,879 posts
Nov 13, 2012 4:45 PM
High school at the earliest. Get them a cheap flip phone with no data.
Nov 13, 2012 4:45pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 4:45 PM
My cousin is 10 and has an iPhone 5. It's so dumb.
Nov 13, 2012 4:45pm
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

Senior Member

7,730 posts
Nov 13, 2012 4:51 PM
Either highschool or driving age is appropriate generally. Anything earlier than that the kid shouldn't really be off on their own to the point that one is needed.
Nov 13, 2012 4:51pm
thePITman's avatar

thePITman

Senior Member

3,867 posts
Nov 13, 2012 4:51 PM
I don't have kids, but I agree with the "Not before high school" idea. Or if you must, it should be a non-data phone that is truly for calling/texting and not surfing the web, twitter, etc.

What about a tablet? Should kids have a tablet before high school? They're not phones, but they're basically the same thing. However, it is different since tablets are bigger, and kids are less likely to carry it around everywhere and use while they're driving, etc. Thoughts?
Nov 13, 2012 4:51pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 4:55 PM
thePITman;1319529 wrote:I don't have kids, but I agree with the "Not before high school" idea. Or if you must, it should be a non-data phone that is truly for calling/texting and not surfing the web, twitter, etc.

What about a tablet? Should kids have a tablet before high school? They're not phones, but they're basically the same thing. However, it is different since tablets are bigger, and kids are less likely to carry it around everywhere and use while they're driving, etc. Thoughts?
Well I think tablets are stupid but a tablet makes about 1 million times more sense than a cell phone at that age.
Nov 13, 2012 4:55pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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23,151 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:00 PM
WTF does an 11 yr need a cell phone for? Call mommy and Daddy? What is the kid doing by himself at that age where he needs one. I say the kid should get a cell phone when he can buy his own.
Nov 13, 2012 5:00pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 5:02 PM
Commander of Awesome;1319534 wrote:WTF does an 11 yr need a cell phone for? Call mommy and Daddy? What is the kid doing by himself at that age where he needs one. I say the kid should get a cell phone when he can buy his own.
If you would have thrown some "GFY" in there I would have thought this was mcburg posting.
Nov 13, 2012 5:02pm
R

rydawg5

Senior Member

2,639 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:06 PM
I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
Nov 13, 2012 5:06pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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Nov 13, 2012 5:07 PM
sleeper;1319535 wrote:If you would have thrown some "GFY" in there I would have thought this was mcburg posting.
Don't want infractions, thx. I'm supporting the guy, kid doesn't need a cell phone. Appropiate age is when the kid can afford one.
Nov 13, 2012 5:07pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

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23,151 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:09 PM
rydawg5;1319537 wrote:I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
Such lame excuses. Emergency as an 11 yr old? Gimmie a fucking break. Find an adult. School Events? LOL, goes to class comes home. Any parent worth a shit knows their kid's schedule and doesn't need a cell phone text to check in with little timmy during class.
Nov 13, 2012 5:09pm
R

rydawg5

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2,639 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:13 PM
Commander of Awesome;1319540 wrote:Such lame excuses. Emergency as an 11 yr old? Gimmie a fucking break. Find an adult. School Events? LOL, goes to class comes home. Any parent worth a shit knows their kid's schedule and doesn't need a cell phone text to check in with little timmy during class.
I'm not making an excuse. In my opinion, I don't care if it's for more than emergencies. I don't care if it's just for away games in school (i dont know if you've ever played sports but this happens) where the parent is waiting on the kid to get to the school to call home to pick them up, because the trip is far.

I don't care.. its a communication device. what's the big deal what the reasoning is? If you're too cheap to have your kid have a phone "just in case" so be it. If you don't think you know how to control the access on the phone, no biggie don't do it.

The point is.. to somes it's not a big deal - it's actually a plus. A way to communicate is a GOOD thing. If you can't control it, then it's on you, but what the does that to do with making it an age limit? Its just a phone.
Nov 13, 2012 5:13pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 5:13 PM
rydawg5;1319537 wrote:I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
What the hell is a kid doing at an event where no adult is present? If there is an event, it probably ends at a certain time. If it ends early, the coach/supervisor/adult can let the kid borrow their phone. What a concept!
Nov 13, 2012 5:13pm
R

rydawg5

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2,639 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:15 PM
sleeper;1319545 wrote:What the hell is a kid doing at an event where no adult is present? If there is an event, it probably ends at a certain time. If it ends early, the coach/supervisor/adult can let the kid borrow their phone. What a concept!
so now my kid is learning how to be a democrat socialist begging for things that aren't his? No thanks. I'll just give a kid a phone and then be a regular parent who sees and control the usage as I deem fit.
Nov 13, 2012 5:15pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

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13,948 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:19 PM
Yea, I actually agree with rydawg here. You never know when an emergency will come up. They're easily controlled, so I don't see what the problem is.
Nov 13, 2012 5:19pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 5:19 PM
rydawg5;1319549 wrote:so now my kid is learning how to be a democrat socialist begging for things that aren't his? No thanks. I'll just give a kid a phone and then be a regular parent who sees and control the usage as I deem fit.
When I was a kid, I somehow got through high school without a car or a cell phone. I turned out great; making more money than most of my peers.
Nov 13, 2012 5:19pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 5:20 PM
Keep coddling your kids and don't be surprised when they major in art and end up living with you for the next 30 years.
Nov 13, 2012 5:20pm
R

rydawg5

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2,639 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:23 PM
not sure how it's coddling. I'm very confused about how that could be the case.
Nov 13, 2012 5:23pm
R

rydawg5

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Nov 13, 2012 5:23 PM
sleeper;1319553 wrote:When I was a kid, I somehow got through high school without a car or a cell phone. I turned out great; making more money than most of my peers.
You did not turn out great. You have 23 banned usernames between JJHuddle & Here
Nov 13, 2012 5:23pm
Fly4Fun's avatar

Fly4Fun

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7,730 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:34 PM
rydawg5;1319537 wrote:I don't see why there'd be an age restriction on having a communication device? You can easily control every aspect of it for parental concerns. This boggles my mind why it'd be an issue or deem an age necessary when a kid can have a way to call their parents (IE School Events, Sports, emergencies) -

As a parent you can control the amount you'd want them to be able to access it, but to simply "have" one .. umm.. when you turn 3-4? When you are smart enough to dial my number or say hello.. that's when you can have one.
My contention is that until a certain age, a kid doesn't need a cell phone as they wouldn't be in a situation where a phone (or responsible adult I trust) isn't readily available. School events and sports there are other parents who can contact you. If they are at a friends house, I'd imagine there is phone access there as well. Other than that, a kid younger than high school or driving age shouldn't be in a situation where a phone or adult I trust wouldn't be available.
Nov 13, 2012 5:34pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

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14,946 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:43 PM
I got my first cell phone in 6th or 7th grade, pretty sure 7th. First person in my class I believe. I turned out alright.
Nov 13, 2012 5:43pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

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16,754 posts
Nov 13, 2012 5:44 PM
Commander of Awesome;1319534 wrote:WTF does an 11 yr need a cell phone for? Call mommy and Daddy? What is the kid doing by himself at that age where he needs one. I say the kid should get a cell phone when he can buy his own.

If he's not with mommy or daddy, he's at his grandma's. She has a phone at her house that he can use to call either of us if need be. He is never alone, which furthers my point of him not needing one. A couple of his friends and cousins have one so she wants to get him one so he can text with them, etc.

He's 11. If theres an emergency, an adult will be present to handle it because he won't be alone.
Nov 13, 2012 5:44pm
G

Gblock

Nov 13, 2012 6:00 PM
this should be case by case basis...i dont think you should put an age on it. maturity level, academic achievment, responsibility shown for chores all would factor in. but around 7-8 grade is fair.
Nov 13, 2012 6:00pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 6:37 PM
rydawg5;1319557 wrote:not sure how it's coddling. I'm very confused about how that could be the case.
Kid wants cell phone. Parents give cell phone. Kid wants car. Parents give car. Kid wants to impregnante 1 million people and spread AIDS all across the planet. Parents give..

You see where I'm going with this? If you give a mouse a cookie...yada yada.
Nov 13, 2012 6:37pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

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Nov 13, 2012 6:37 PM
rydawg5;1319558 wrote:You did not turn out great. You have 23 banned usernames between JJHuddle & Here
False.
Nov 13, 2012 6:37pm