Cell phones for kids

[Marissaj820]

I think kids under the age of 13 shouldn't have a fully activated cell phone, I see lil 8-12 year olds walking around texting/calling their friends and all of them are snobby, ungrateful, and spoiled. For protection they should be able to have a cell phone which is set to only allow contact with emergency numbers, and everything else deactivated. I also think it depends on the maturity level, even at 13 if the kid isn't responsible, they shouldn't have one for other purposes then emergency wise. When they are responsible enough for a cell phone and they want texting and everything else, i think they should either pay for it, or have good grades and maintain them.

[eneidaselina]

I think kids should have cellphones. I know they will call their friends 24/7 but it will come in handy for when their parents need to contact them.

[fireo9o2]

What is your opinion on givng kids cell phones??

My kids want one BADLY !!!  But we cannot afford it right now. 

So what do you think is it really that important to give your kid a cell phone??  Almost all the kids have them now it seems like.

ITS NOT IMPORTANT BUT IT IF YOU ARE LIKE ME I NEED TO KNOW WHERE MY GIRLS ARE AND THIS IS A EASY WAY TO ESPECIAL NOW AND DAYS
I HAVE THREE GIRLS THEY ARE IN JR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL THEY GOT ONE IN A FAMILY PLAN BUT MY 9 YEAR WANTS ONE NOW I WHEN OUT AND GOT HER A PRE PAY ONE

[foxylady81]

my opion is if you cant afford it then dont get it for them unless they work for it i have a 13 year old niece and the only reason she has one is because she is at school untell 5:30 and if she hs to get a hold of us then she can but if they cant work for it then they dont need one they are not that important unless your kid dose sports or other activity for sports tht leaves them where they need to get a hold of you and there is no one at the office but i wouldnt give it to the child unless they work for it

[lher0277]

my girls want one too but they really don't need one just brings our monthy bills higher if anything and want for emergency use only best thing is net 10's prepaid you can start with 300 with new phone then just add 15 dollers every month, if rarely used mintues add up and roll over every month.

[Rynet]

A kid should always have a cell phone for communication with parents in case of emergency.

[kcineastes]

The only reason kids should have a cellphone is for emergency. I believe you can get prepaid plans or some providers will let you add on to your existing plans for like $10 more and you can set it to have limited capability like they can only make outgoing calls to specific numbers.

[lightningclix]

This is something that is brought up at my house ALL the time! I have 6 kids, and my older two have cell phones, but they are 16 and 18.  They first got them when they were 15 years old.  But they help pay for it by working, extra help, etc.  Now my 10 year old wants one, doing the "boo hoo" poor little me bit, which does NOT work in my house!  He is even trying the "but when I walk home with the twins we will feel safer".... We all survived our childhood with out them, our children too will survive! 

[arms1977]

I am all for kids having cell phones. My 9 year old has one. He knows that it cannot be taken to school and it will be taken away if he behaves badly. I know he can always call me this way, opposed to having to find a phone and remember all of my numbers. We almost got a chaperone phone from our service provider, but I felt he was responsible enough to not abuse his phone. I was right. It has been more than 10 months sine=ce we gave him the phone (yes, he was only 8 at the time) and he has NEVER abused his cell privilages. I fell that the $9.99 per month is well worth it!

[tsubasa731]

what age are we talking about by kid? my cell phone just got ran over yesterday by the truck of a friend's mom......

[julius11]

I had bought my son a prepaid phone from T-mobile.  It was the cheapest one they had at the time. $40.  I put no more then $25 a month on it. Which isn't that much minutes but my point is that he should not be talking for hours on the phone. I don't really like the idea of kids having phone.  But it did come in handy for certain emergencies that he had which he needed to call me for.

[lynnc35]

There needs to be a limit on phones for kids. They can add up any charges they want, They need to know that you are getting this for them for limited use, and emergencies only. Be upfront. Set your limits.

[sgluckadoo]

No, no, no.... kids are too dependent upon technology...it is just one more thing to distract them and for them to misuse... 

[gayecat]

My !! yr old granddaughter is now in middle school.  I'm so glad she has her ( prepaid - limited minutes).  We had a mixup for a pick up after a school dance and we were able to resolve it without her being left exposed to danger.  By the way the dance was right after school, I'd never let her go out at night.  You people need to look at the children abducted and murdered just this year - the little girl in Fla last week to know that things are not what they were when previous generations grew up.  Safety first.

[bmorebabe25]

The great thing about the company that I am with (AT&T) is that they have a program for your kids called smart limits which lets you set limits for the usage, but I do think it all depends on their age and maturity.