Cell phones in 5th grade????

[kymommy]

My daughter wants a cell phone. She is saving all her allowance to get one. When we go to Walmart, she would rather look at phones than toys. She says several of her friends have phones (they do!) I just feel like she doesn't need one. We have a phone at home she can use. She doesn't have that many friends to call. I just don't think she is ready. They have pre-pay phones at Walmart that are around 20 dollars that don't require contracts. I just feel like she is too young.
I had one friend who did bought her 5th grade son a phone. She says all he does is go outside then call her
What do you think?
kymommy

[stephwhiz]

DH and I have been discussing the cell phone issue because two of Trent's cousins (who are 9) both have cellphones. They had Migo phones (where you can only call 4 pre-programmed phone #'s) but now they have picture phones. DH and I agree that our kids are almost always with us, rarely away from us, so why would they need a cellphone. As they get older and start doing more things away phone us then we'll get them one but now they really don't need one.

One of my good kids who have kids that are away from her alot (parents are divorced) got her kids Migo phones and I think in that case it is a good idea and that way they can call either parent any time they want to. They are also at grandparents, aunts and uncles houses a lot too.

Stephanie

[kymommy]

I never heard of a "migo" phone. Where do you get them? I've also seen commercials for a new phone from Disney with lots of parent controls. I just don't know about this.
kymommy

[stephwhiz]

GO to www.verizonwireless.com and they have them. I think that Cingular may have them too. They're really neat and good as a starter phone. Stephanie

[Cheeseburger]

I don't know, I think 9 is WAY TOO YOUNG to be carrying around a cellphone. When I was nine I could hardly keep track of my shoes, let alone an expensive electronic device. On top of that, I think parents need to monitor (without being overly nosy), their kids communications with other kids. If you have a regular phone at home, why can't her friends call her on that? It is the same thing.

I feel so bad for her, because I know how terrible peer pressure is to keep up with the joneses. But that doesn't mean we can let our kids give in to peer pressure. They shouldn't have to wear skimpy clothes, say bad words, or be generally rebellious to have good self-esteem around their peers. We've got to lead them in God's way.... have you talked with her about WHY she wants a cellphone, and what God has to say about things like that?

I don't see a problem with a phone they can only call their parents or 911 with, though.

[JeanineAnne]

My daughter will be 10 on Christmas Eve and she has the verizon migo phone. Like one of Steph's friends, this need arose from when her and her brother visit their dad. More often than not when they go (and hardly ever for more than 24 hours at a time) she has no way to get a hold of me. Before him and his girlfriend broke up our daughter would come home crying about how if she could have called me, she would have had one of us pick them up.

The ONLY people she can call and talk with is me, her step-daddy, my best friend's phone (she has a daughter the same age) and then my daughter's best friend (she has a migo as well but is in 7th grade and gets her and her 7 year old sister off the bus before their mom (who is our church receptionist) gets home).

I have mixed emotions about the thing. It is a nice for us to have this piece of mind the two times they go a month to see their dad. Yes, we've had some ....oops left my phone moments, but she has always remembered right where she left it. And to be honest, she talks on the home phone WAY more than on her cell phone.

Actually....she just talks alot

[ChamomileFriend]

I was thinking about getting my son a 4-button kiddie phone in a few years when he starts school just in case something happens at school or on the bus.
Cingular has the Firefly phone that is alot like Verizon's Migo phone - 4 pre-programmed buttons for emergencies only.
It also looks like LeapFrog makes a kiddie phone? http://www.leapfrog.com/do/findprodu...de&key=tictalk I am not sure what carriers it is associated with, though.
It also looks like there is a watch-phone available that also allows the parents to track their child's location? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3741901/ That sounds like it would be invaluable if a child were ever kidnapped or just not going where they told their parents they were going.
Sprint has a GPS phone for kids, too I think.

[PATTIPEANUT]

My oldest son is 10 years old and is involved in cub scouts. We got him the migo phone through Verizon for his birthday back in June. I wanted him to be able to call my husband, myself and his grandmother in case of an emergency. The only time he is allowed to have it though is when he is going to be in a situation where he might need to call us -such as what time to be home, tell us he is running late, etc.). It is only 10 dollars a month added to my bill so I don't think that is too bad.

[DianaLynn]

My oldest dd is 11 and desperatly wants a cell phone. In our situation she is no longer going on visits to her dad so that situation doesnt exist for us anymore, although it is a great idea! If for some reason she ever goes back with him, she wont be going without a phone! However she will not have it for anyother reason. My dd is a very sneaky and desceptive person and it would not be a good choice for me to provide her with another tool to aid her in this. Plus she truly isnt somewhere where a landline isnt provided. She has access to a phone at school, grandmas, and here at home. She doesnt go to friends homes so that isnt a problem, and even if she did they have a home phone. I think every kid is different and so if every situation. Besides that I am also a very strict parent.

[Aalena]

I personally feel that cell phones are not products for children/teenagers. The phones that are programmed to just call mom and dad and family in emergencies are fine. But regular cell phones are dangerous.

My 13 niece has had a phone since she was 10. There is no way to monitor their usage - who they're talking to or texting. Her dad and step mom caught her talking to people that were much older to her. Plus they found text messages from boys that were very explicit and vulgar. If she would have deleted these first, they would never have know.

Also, I get so tired of kids having them and not paying attention to the people around them. Not just my niece, but a lot of kids. In church on Sunday, I was sitting next to a 19-20 year old who texted throughout most of church. They need to be a part of society. They don't know how to be involved in real conversations because all they do is text.

When we had our free festival for the lower income neighborhood in the summer, a 14-15 year old son of a really nice family from church, could hardly stop texting to run the game for the kids. All while his mother stood right next to him.

Sorry, I'm really passionate about this because I've seen these things go on and don't want our children to grow apart from other people.

But the phones that can be used to just call family, I think are great ideas!