Pre-teens & cell phones - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

mermiesmom · 11-03-2009, 12:34 PM

Hi Everyone,

I want to get your opinions/advice. My daughter is going to be 11 next week. She has been asking for a cell phone for, goodness, a couple of years now. I feel like she is a little young for a cell phone, but she is starting to do more things (clubs, activities) now and my husband and I aren't always there (of course there is other adult supervision). So what do you think? Is an 11 year old too young for the responsibility of a cell phone?

Thanks!

pbeck91 · 11-03-2009, 12:38 PM

Absolutely too young. My 11yr old has been asking for a cell phone for about a year now and I will no way get her one! I told her if she is at an after school club there will be an adult in charge that can allow her to use the phone if she needs to contact me. She is never somewhere where she is alone and would need a cell phone. To me, it's a waste of money (the extra money for another line), and they just want one because their friends have them. That's my opinion, i'm sure others have their own.

nextbigloser · 11-03-2009, 12:41 PM

My 12 yr. old has been asking for one too. I have been thinking long and hard about this. If we do get him a cell phone it will be a prepaid and he will have to understand how to keep up with his min. ATT&T has some good prepaid packages. I have found that he checks in more when he is out with friends because they have cell phones. That is my big thing - checking in. I don't mind if he is out with friends as long as I have updates. If he doesn't have a phone to borrow he usually stops in the local grocery store and they let him use the phone there. He is to lazy to walk up our huge hill and check in. I actually don't blame him I rather call than walk too.

So I think it depends on why they want the phone. For texting and surfing the net I don't think a phone is needed. If its to keep up with them I feel its ok. Just my opinion.

Shetaz0028 · 11-03-2009, 12:43 PM

Please understand that hubbybubby and I are the MEANEST parents in the world.

Our girls got cells for their 16th birthdays. Before then they would use mine when they went out without me or hubby. When they got their phones we made them pay for the texting feature (hubby and I didn't use it) and they have to pay for the insurance on the phone. We buy them a phone with a certain price and if they want something more than that they have to come up with the extra money. It worked for us and yes, both girls are still in school so we are still paying the cell bills for them. Unless they drive us over our minutes which has only happened once in 5 years.

LyndasRoom · 11-03-2009, 12:45 PM

My son has had a cell phone since he was about that age (perhaps middle school). He had restrictions on whom he could call, so it was basically a tether to mom and dad and home. He was very responsible with it, knowing that if he lost or broke it, it would not be replaced.
He was SUDDENLY very concientious about letting us know where he was ...around the neighborhood...and we knew we could get ahold of him at any time when we needed him.
I may be a little hyper sensitive to having a kid be able to be in touch... I got forgotten a lot...or it felt that way when people were late to pick me up from activities...
another thing...ATT offers a thing where you can locate your family members, kinda like GPS. If my kid was still littleish (he's 20) I would so be all over that...

kantonucci · 11-03-2009, 12:55 PM

My son was bugging us for about a year for a cellphone, so we got him one for his 11th birthday. We put him on the family plan, which is good because he rarely ever uses it.

We do make sure he takes it if he is going somewhere, but his usage is very minimal. I'm sure that will change once he becomes a teenager.

Vikkator · 11-03-2009, 01:02 PM

I think it really should depend on how responsible your kid is. I have a 20-year old who has managed to break every phone I've given her. I recently got her one of those heavy duty ones. She had it for two months, got mad at her boyfriend and broke it in half. Needless to say, she no longer has one. My boys, on the other hand, have never had any problems using or abusing their phones. One thing we did was get unlimited texting, which we all share the costs for. You can also save money by getting 'in-network' calling or top 10 number calling (we have both on our plan). That keeps the minute use down dramatically. We also managed to get a 20% employee discount through my hubby's employer.

It is a great peace of mind for parents, though. For an 11-year-old, I'd recommend getting insurance on it, at least until you can see how responsible she is in taking care of it. The pre-paid is also a good option.

FatButNotHappy · 11-03-2009, 04:09 PM

I got my kids one for Christmas this past year (they were 11.) Just cheap used ones off craigslist. I set it up where they could only call Mobile to Mobile (free) and our work numbers...I got them texting too. They did good like that. I got them NEW ones in September (they turned 12) and they broke the screen on one of them within a week. Grrr. Verizon has a way you can restrict who they can call and during what times.

I like them having a phone. it makes my life easier, and i am all about my life being easier.

plus...the best part is being able to ground them from their phones really does affect them.

They are on our family plan--$10 each, free mobile to mobile and texting. Plus ten free numbers for the family.

hollycerniglia · 11-03-2009, 05:24 PM

I have a 14 y/o and a 15 y/o. My youngest has had a phone for about 2 years now. Her dad bought it for her and he has her on his plan. My oldest was so jealous and kept begging me for a phone. I refused because I didn't have the money. However, she sweet talked my dad into getting her one and putting her on his plan. She does not use the phone very often, but she does text a lot. She has unlimited texting thank god. I like them having a phone because I can always get a hold of them. I don't have long distance on my home phone so the cell's come in handy sometimes.

loki8481 · 11-03-2009, 05:27 PM

I would... but only a pre-paid phone!