So when is the right time for a kid to get a cell phone these days?

Like my wife says.... With the way kids are being abducted these days, I would say as soon as you can. At least this way they can track the phone if ever needed. Or the child can call someone if ever threatened or trying to get away. Many people don't train their kids how to defend themselves so they need any advantage they can get. Things are not the way they were when we grew up. We didn't have a choice but to keep change in our pockets.

 

All is true on the issues about earning their things. But at the same time think of the times and this day and age of technology. My parents are in their 50's and aren't very techy. My dad has a smart phone but he needs help doing something at least once or twice a week. My mom has a pre paid phone and wont think about touching a smart phone. They have a lab top that might as well be a 500 dollar deck of cards. Now, my 12 year old daughter has a smart phone, and an ipod touch. She also has a ipad 3 and knows how to do more on a labtop than they do. She probably knew mote at 6 years old than they did about it. This is a good thing because unless she is going to be a waitress she might need to learn technology. This is a good head start on learning and she is pretty responsible with her stuff. She is responsible with her usage and her minutes and such. She gets to learn all the new phones and tablets because my brother is a manager for verizon wireless. Every family and parent is different but I wouldnt want her left behind from technology.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

I got my first phone somewhere between 4th and 6th grade. It was the razor when it first came out. I personally wouldn't buy them a smartphone because its a huge distraction, but then at the same time you don't want them to be made fun of for having a simple phone and not the new iphone or what ever is the rage at the time. I only ever used my phone when I had to call my mom but at the same time there wasn't too much to do on a phone that long ago.

 

I got my first phone whenever I started driving or at least by the time I got a job which was no later than 17. This was 2002 or so and it all came out of my pocket and my dad still about kicked my butt when he got home from otr driving that week, which was expected I never even had any of the video game systems until I was in 7th or 8th grade. Granted there was only Nintendo and Sega and maybe the first PlayStation at thst time. I don't imagine I'd be giving my kids a phone of any kind until about that age or any reason to.

 

I got my first in 4th or 5th grade. It was a Razor flip phone. I didn't get a smart phone until 8th grade when I was out and about- plus I paid for it myself.

I don't see anything wrong with getting your child a flip phone or something similar as a first. Smart phones can wait, I have notice among my friends that there's less verbal communication- all their attention is directed towards devices.

 

I say consider getting them one when you "need" them to have one and not as a means of saving their dignity or any of that silliness. When they begin going places where they can exercise some freedom AND responsibility but can still call if they need you, its a good time to consider it.

 

We got one for our daughter for when she is away from home. We did it as an add on to our plan, so it is just a few bucks a month. She has had it since she started sleeping over with friends, a couple of years ago, she is 10 now.

It stays in the cupboard unless it is needed.


All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure - Mark Twain