Hi guys

My 11-year-old son one" is making cell phone noises. No, not beeps... but is asking for a cell phone because "his friends all have them."

My gut is telling me to wait for 13 and then get him an entry model that can't access the internet. (DO you even get those any more?)

What do you all think? Ideas? Experience?

Yay. It's nice to have somewhere to ask these questions, ne?

Sam

My son is 6 and already is asking for a cell phone but i agree that 13 is an appropriate age to get a cell phone although i wish we could wait until they were 16. i have learnt from experience my sister who is a straight A student at RBJS got a cellphone she is on mxit, facebook and you never see her sitting with her school books anymore she stays on that cell, even when we out shopping she walks iin the mall chattiing on her phone and giggling to herself all the time. its really worrying because we dont know who they in contact with and what they talking about.So when my kid turns 13 he gets a cellphone without internet access and by the way you are allowed to block internet access if a cell phone has internet access.

My kids are 7 and 10. They both have phones with restricted access - for about a year now. The only reason they have phones is in case of emergency as they travel with transport to and from school. I get a message when they arrive at school and when they arrive home. They have prepaid cards which I top-up with R12 every six months. I have never had a problem with abuse except for the games that they play. This is also done only on weekends when we (parents) are around. So yes you can have responsible kids.

My daughter got hers at age 10. No Mxit allowed or internet access. It is primarily used when she is on an outing away from her parents. She gets R20 per month air time. She is responsible with it. But on the other hand three boys in her grade have been suspended in the past year for having pornography on their cell phones.

I really think it is about the guidelines that you put in place and the conversation that you have with your child before they get the phone, about what the consequences will be if they abuse it.

Okay, so I may not be a parent, but I agree with FatherFigure. You can have responsible kids. My Nieces and Nephews have phones. They are 7, 10 and 11... The parents never once complained. And I never seen them abusing that privilege. Ultimately, if the parents can teach their kids how to be responsible, then you will have very little need to worry. But like I said, I am not a parent, only an uncle with a very good relationship with his nieces and nephews.

We gave my daughter her first cell phone at the age of 10, with very strict conditions - we can access it anytime. We explained to her the reasons for giving her one, and that if she was constantly on it, it would be confiscated. Just over a year later, you would hardly think that she had one. The reason for this - she is modelling our cell phone behaviour. It is a tool to be used to enhance life, and not something that replaces face-to-face" communication. We also stressed that we were giving it to her as a way for us to get contact her, not because "all my friends have one". She was, in fact, the last child in her class to get one by at least a year.

On the occaision that I need to get hold of her during the day, I have to remind her to take it to school, as well as write a note to the teacher.

If you child is mature enough, and if as parents you are able to model the behaviour that you expect from her around a phone, go for it. It will take a week or so for the novelty to wear off, and normality will start to assert itself. Only you know your child, so follow your instinct.

18, pure and simple!!!

that youtube video is a fake.... funny how many people here seem to think it's what the other kids have that decides what their kids should have. My kids will get phones when I deem them mature enough. I really dont care what other kids have and what other people think. I know my kids, no one else does.

My son is 7 years old and nags for a phone everyday and I am on the verge of giving in just to stop the nagging! But after reading this forum I think I am going to suck up the nagging and he can wait until 11 - 13 years of age, I just hope we both survive ;-)

How times have changed! I am 27 now, so when I was in my teens, cellphones were just becoming popular - a few of my friends had them but my dad was very specific about making me wait until I was 18. 18!!

I think if you are a parent who feels the need to give your child a cellphone for 'emergencies' then it is appropriate to give him one now. If you are more relaxed, the reasoning of 'all my friends have one' is not good enough and you should set the limit at 13 as you have proposed.

Setting specific ages for milestones whilst growing up can be very exciting - something to celebrate and look forward to. But maybe I grew up in a different era!