What is up with 12 yr olds needing cell phones? Are they really that

[glowing]

important that it warrants being "connected" 24/7... We had a "family" cell when I turned 16 and had to drive. It stayed in the car, and was for emergencies only. Hell, I wish I didn't have to have one now, to tell you the truth. People are complaining about the price of milk and gas, but 12 yr olds are walking around talking on cell phones.. Unless, child-labor is back and they can pay for their own phones, why is this shit perpetuated by their parents? I don't get it, aren't these kids supposed to be the "it" for the future and green ways.. yet, they seem just as consumerized, if not more, than their parents.

ON EDIT: A few parent have weighed in, and perhaps as my little one ripens, I will sing a new tune. I just remember as a child, doing the home alone thing, I was ok, I lived in the country a good 1/2 hour from a parent, ER or any sort of 911 service... I suppose it is a peace of mind and a blessing in some cases. To me its still a curse being able to be "found" 24/7.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

1. I AM BEING PRESSURED BY MY NINE YEAR OLD

BUT THERE ARE PROS AND CONS TO BE SURE. I SENT YOU A VALENTINE BY THE WAY.

:+

[glowing]

5. I was wondering.. Thank you.. you are so sweet Happy Valentine.

[Trajan]

8. ignore

wrong reply level

[liberalnurse]

2. All my kids have one....

ages 11 thru 16...we are on Verizon's family plan. All are completely responsible with their phone. We keep extremely close contact with each other. They all are in sports, school activites, friends homes etc....

I like it.

[AlCzervik]

3. my daughter has one, she's 13 and her school is pretty far away so i'm glad

she can contact me if she needs to, her phone bill is about $30 month, i'm willing to pay for it.

[Der Blaue Engel]

4. Mine had one at 12

Cell phone companies offer free phones and really cheap monthly packages for multiple phones on one contract, so it's not necessarily what you're assuming. For a single mom who worked late while my son took public transportation to and from school and let himself in with his own key, it was essential.

ETA: He still has one at 16 and it's still essential; I was just explaining why a 12-yr-old might have one. :)

[JerseygirlCT]

6. I think once you know you have the option, it

feels risky to do without that option once they're out and on their own more often.

Mine didn't get one until later into HS. And even then, it was about my convenience, not his. As a parent, I now find I'm nervous if mine is not with me when my kids are somewhere else. It's the "what-ifs" that get you.

I'm not sure why younger kids would need one. Presumably, they're either at school or with someone safe at that age. Middle school is where it gets tricky. For me, that was easier, as I worked from home then. I was there, if he wasn't in school.

But my take on that age, too, would be at school or at home... and at home there's a landline to use.

I'm not going to diss other parents' choices, though. That's just my take on it.

[kevsand]

7. We gave our ten year old my old phone for Christmas.

The plan she's on is a flat $10 a month, and 25 cents per minute.

We resisted it for a long time, but she started at another building in the district this year which is about five miles away. The kicker was when she started after school volleyball practice.

She has to leave it turned off during class hours, and the rest of the time can only make calls in case of an emergency. It's a peace of mind thing.

[Trajan]

9. One word ...

Cowbell

(It's actually two words jammed together, but wtf ...)

[Maddy McCall]

10. I commute many miles to work.

My son uses his cell phone to keep in touch with me when I'm away.

It's the best thing ever.

[Donnachaidh]

11. they really DON'T need them

But people have bought into the *convenience* meme and the *fear* meme. Both are the giant fish-hooks being used by marketing these days.

We have cells for EMERGENCIES. Which means they stay at home most of the time. They are also pre-paid, with no contract. I'd much rather take the several hundred dollar fee to get out of contracts and sink that into savings for my kid, rather than have that fee and an added monthly bill on my plate. Any kid in a school has access to phones in an emergency - why give Ma Bell the added revenue? AND the FCC the added fee per phone?

[ileus]

12. My 5yo wants a cell phone....

[CountAllVotes]

13. fashionable?

I don't know. I do not have a cell phone and I do not want a cell phone. Enough said. }(

:dem:

[catchnrelease]

14. A special plan

that my daughter got for her two boys (9 and 7) for use when away from home/parents. The phones only have one or maybe two buttons, and I believe that these phones will only call the parents. I'm not totally familiar with them, maybe the other button is for 911, but in any case, they can't be used for calling friends or goofing off. Strictly for safety/emergency.

[seabeyond]

15. rich or poor doesnt seem to matter. i refuse to give to almost 13 yr old simply

out of principle. and he is one of the very very few without in his whole entire school. if he does need to reach me, he just grabs a friends phone.

but... that is one of the big ones in my hosue, i will not get them for my kids to be cool.


it seems to be coming as much from the parent insisting the kid needs the damn phones.