Comments on: At What Age Should My Kid Have a Cell Phone?

By: bob

bob — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:18:43 +0000

yah

By: gabe hoffman

gabe hoffman — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:27:55 +0000

I have a 5 year old, so we’re right there in the same boat. My guess on when we’ll end up getting them one is probably when the iphone nano comes out and costs around $20 a month to use. Just a guess. Obviously the iPhone is a bit much right now, and makes it a bit of a waste for a kid.

Of course I have thought about getting my boys iPod touches for Christmas it’s about as cheap as a decent DVD player and it’s way more fun in the car, and then add on Skype and there you go. That’s a scary thought.

By: Mikes Sumondong

Mikes Sumondong — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:27:07 +0000

I don’t have kids yet so I can’t answer.

but for me I got one when I was already a highschool student.

By: Rodlie Ortiz

Rodlie Ortiz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:16:25 +0000

I would think at the age in which security warrants it. If they’re going to be away from parents for awhile (other than school). I would think perhaps around 12 or so. But hey…my guy is just two, what do I know. I may get him something a little sooner. We’ll see

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:33:07 +0000

I’m so glad that I’m not the only one asking this question, thanks for starting this conversation! As a father of three (and one on the way) I’ve been really wondering the same thing! My oldest is 8, and I don’t think that she’s ready for a cell phone, but know that the day is coming very soon that I’ll have to address this.

I got my first phone when I was 18 – needed it for the job, it was a really janky Nokia flip with a green screen (@Kyle — i <3 snake!!!)

By: Jeff Holton

Jeff Holton — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:33:08 +0000

I got my first cellphone when I was around 27. I fought it, hard, but my wife made me do it.

I’ve regretted it ever since.

I see no reason why anyone would need a cellphone (or a car) until after college, really.

(However, just in case you all think I’m a backwards Luddite, to prove that I am not, I did learn to my dismay yesterday that I am too late to claim my children’s domain names. Alas.)

By: @davidtcopeand

@davidtcopeand — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:29:37 +0000

I work for a one of the big three wireless carriers and have been in the industry since 1990.

We made my son wait until the end of his 6th grade year for a phone which was really hard on him considering I work for a wireless co. and get huge discounts on service.He was the last of his friends to get one. The life of a middle school kid is just hectic and we have found it great to have a way for him to contact us.It really paid off a few weeks ago when a PARENT of a kid he was with wanted to take the kids to an R movie.My son said no and called us to pick him up.I also like being able to text and exchange pictures when I am traveling. It keeps us connected.

I think it all depends on the kid and for sure there needs to be rules attached. Now Facebook…there is a whole different question

By: Conner Byrd

Conner Byrd — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:07:19 +0000

Yeah man this scares me. I can’t remember when it was that my 4 year old actually began to be able to open my iPhone flip to the flower…open it…and then flip through all the photos in my phone! Now she can do anything on it. She even answers when it’s MiMi or Nana!
My 18 mos old son holds it up to his face and says “Hello!” He can slide it open and just pushes that Home button over and over again like he’s making it work!

It’s crazy, my cell phone was in 1997 when I moved out after I graduated high school and went away to college. My Dad opened the account with me b/c I had just turned 18. As a youth pastor it floors me when my middle schoolers have their own phones!

Since my daughter’s only 4, we haven’t given it too much thought.

By: Daniel Roberts

Daniel Roberts — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:30:41 +0000

You bring up some very good points. I grew up with two cousins my same age that were as close as I’ll ever have to brothers. Only difference was that their mom was a romantic that thought kids should be “well rounded” and read fiction like Tom Sawyer.

Even though we all shared interest in computers, they were severely restricted in their computer time. She ended up with two well-rounded adults with well-rounded jobs but really have no clue what they want to do in life.

On the other hand, computers led to Photoshop ver 3 when I was 11. Spent my whole summer playing with that (something they would never have been allowed to do). As a result I started apprenticing in video production when I was 14 and now own my own production company. I can’t imagine having a cooler job.

I said all that to illustrate the fact that technology isn’t a reward for older kids anymore. It’s not just some toy they get when they can pay for it. It’s the foundation for the adults they’ll become. That and nobody cares if Brett Favre is good at math or how far Michio Kaku can throw a football.

That said, I think every parent should be REQUIRED to read “The Millionaire Next Door” and quit giving their children everything. After a couple years of trying, thanks to that book and an amazing wife, I am just now breaking out of some patterns my own parents created in my life.

By: David H.

David H. — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:45:00 +0000

I didn’t get one until I was leaving for college. And…I had to CONVINCE my parents that it made more sense to get me a cellphone than to buy a calling card. Hard to believe.