Cellphone for kids?

[jzgrlduff]

I know we've discussed this before, but it never ceases to amaze me. I was at my girlfriends the other day and her 9 year old is texting on her phone. 9! I said to friend "Wow, she has a cellphone already?", to which she replied like I was nuts "Yea, we got it for her for Christmas". Mind you, she was still 8 years old at Christmas.

Not only was she texting, but she was texting her friend who was in the kitchen with us, about 5 feet away from her. WTH is that all about? I asked her and the friend replied that they didn't want us to know what they were talking about. Nice.

Are more children getting cells at a younger age now? I don't get it.

[gundog]

That's how kids roll these days.

[BauersMom]

With people getting rid of land lines, and pay phones disappearing kids will start getting phones earlier. My youngest son was 9 or 10 when he got his first cell phone; and because he was added to our family plan that includes unlimited texting, he could text. Many of my son's friends don't have home phones, and when he is at a friend's house, I want to be able to call him. I don't want to have to call the mom/dad's cell phone.

Originally we got it out of convenience, he golfs a lot and it is much easier for him to call when he is getting close to the last hole than for me to guess when he is going to be done. It was $10/month to add him to our plan, and that $10 was well worth the peace of mind that it provided.

As for the comment about "We don't want you to know what we're talking about." I would have snatched that phone IMMEDIATELY. Phones are not private in my family.

[javasmom]

Not a cell phone, but my nephew got an iPod touch for Christmas when he was 4. His brother got a laptop when he was 5.
My niece just turned 2...and she has and iPad.

[Belles mom]

No kids here, but I guess I could understand...maybe limited on just what they could do with it. I agree with Debi, that a comment like that would have gotten the phone snatched immediately.

[jzgrlduff]

My niece just turned 2...and she has and iPad.

Holy....

[Aim]

We got Kelsey a cell phone when she was 13. And that was more for my benefit than hers. She was starting to become more independent and I needed the apron string that the cell phone provided.

Cameron wants a cell phone. Well, he has asked a couple times. It isn't like it is all he thinks about. However, we won't be getting him one for a few years. He's only 8. He does have my old iPod Touch and he uses the text app on that and texts all of us. He and his dad talk throughout the day while dad is at work. He also enjoys facetiming people.

NOW- we've considered getting rid of our land line. And if that were to happen, we'd get another phone so that everyone in the family had a phone. But long distance rates in Canada are still pretty high, so we have not made that switch yet.

I do think it becomes ridiculous that 2yr olds can operate all these gadgets. My niece knows how to use a tablet and an iPod touch. I'm more of an old fashion kind of toy person for little kids. I think it is important to learn to occupy yourself without technology. We're going to have a society filled with people who cannot wait for any length of time without being stimulated with some sort of screen.

[gailatmsu]

Some of the kids in the boys' classes have them (3rd and 4th grade). We decided on 13. That's an age I feel comfortable leaving them for sports practices, leaving them at home alone for a limited amount of time, letting them walk to nearby friends' homes, etc... They will be basic phones without all the bells and whistles to start with though.

[Dexter Dogg]

I agree with Chuck - it's how kids roll these days!

My sister's kids all have phones, infact my oldest niece (12) just got an iphone. I have to say it is awesome because I can call her for free on Viber! I feel so much more connected as an Uncle living 4000 miles away, and those kids are so important to me.

Edit to add - it has helped me to keep up with tween speak. My niece call me a 'ledge' the other day which, much to my sisters amusement, means I'm a legend.

[MyGoldenBoy]

My 10 yr old daughter has a cell phone. She uses it to call me when she needs to be picked up after an activity, when she's walking her younger brothers home and they're being brats, when she's up at her dad's house - because he doesn't have a landline.

It's necessary.