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Daughter wants a cell phone for Christmas

Captplaid
Having a hard time accepting it. She is 11. How old is old enough?
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Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • varian
    when you trust her to call you when somethings wrong.
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  • mrmike08075
    I bought a pair of blue and black LG flip phones a few years ago

    Very nice quality basic phones - talk and text and pics and radio feature (no internet)

    They were giving the phones at age 10 and if they obey the rules the probably get a smart phone freshman year of highschool



    Mike
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  • remingtonoaks
    When they can afford to pay for it themselves...
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  • roswellnative
    I got the kids a iPhone at like 10. Didn?t have any cell service, they just use them on WiFi for free. Then at like 13 I added a SIM card and service when Daughert was doing dance after school. Son 10 still has just iPhone no cell

    Ros
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  • droptop
    quote:Originally posted by remingtonoaks
    When they can afford to pay for it themselves...
    Makes them learn something about money, and not begging or demanding something from others.
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  • Locust Fork
    Right now they have all kinds of safety programs and such that you can have on your kids devices that make lettinh a p p younger kid have them a LOT easier.

    When mine were younger there was nothing like they have today. So, the danger factor is a lot less worrisome. It becomes something you can use to teach them how to manage their time and how to be tech savvy at an early age.

    So, if your 11 year old is responsible enough its a great thing.

    They have parental locks that will only let them access what you approve.....they can only call who you allow them to......they can only use the allotted data that you pre-set to be theirs on your plan.....you can see exactly where that phone is at all times.....its really amazing when you know what is out there to help.

    If you are giving her an Iphone she can work to earn Itunes gift cards (always use a gift card and never pay with your debit or credit card for that mess, they are cheesy, but the Itunes cards are great) so she can download her favorite music that will be in her Itunes account forever.

    I would have someone go over things before you give it to her.....set it so it will not work during her bedtime, and limit all the parental mess before hand.

    11 is not early. You just have to use all the tools available to help you keep things in check.
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  • allen griggs
    flip phone

    Do you want an 11 year old child looking at internet porn? Because she will, on an Iphone.
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  • Locust Fork
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    flip phone

    Do you want an 11 year old child looking at internet porn? Because she will, on an Iphone.


    Actually you can make sure that doesn't happen with all the parental controls they have now. Its nowhere near as risky as it once was.
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  • wiplash
    quote:Originally posted by remingtonoaks
    When they can afford to pay for it themselves...


    That's how I grew up.
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  • Wild Turkey
    When she's doing things away from home/school and you can't be there it might be reasonable to have a simple phone.

    But whenever make sure they know two things: First, that if they call you to come get them you will, no questions asked, no lectures or hysterics, but they will have to tell the the whole truth of how they got in that situation and accept any consequences for their bad choice. (ie, both of you handle it like adults!)

    And second, they WILL ANSWER if you call them. A niece of mine got in trouble but because she did answer the phone it was merely minor trouble with the school (but not with her mom!!!!) when it could have been big trouble with school and cops.

    The point is to teach them the phone is a tool, not an entertainment device.
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  • He Dog
    I thought they were born with one in had these days.
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  • usmarshal01
    LMAOO
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  • UKCATS
    As a father of 12 and 16 year old girls... When you get her the phone she will never speak to anyone again. It will be glued to her fingers and be the center of her world for the next 15 years.

    We bought our 16 year old a phone at 14. The 12 year old doesnt have a "true" cell phone, but uses the ipad constantly.


    Good luck!!!!
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  • Sam06
    LOL

    I remember when I was a kid my Mom made sure I had some dimes in case I had to call home, then it was an emergency quarter.

    Time change.


    I hope you make the right desision, thankfully mine are gone before all the cell phone crazyness.

    I think I would go with the when she can afford one answer but that would likely make her a victim at school and she would teased. I know kids are all expected to have a cell phone now in High School. When my Nephews were in HS they would get messages on their phone from the school.

    good luck.
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  • discusdad
    you can get basic TALK only call phones now. no texts, no video or pic capability. drive you kid mad. get one of these for those "emergency" times
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