What would be the appropriate age to give my daughter a cell phone?
by 
faithfulvisions freebagger
ANSWERS: 33
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I say once she is 16 or when she is able to drive.
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I say never. She can have one when she's old enough to get a job and buy one for herself (and pay for the phone bill every month).
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I think it depends on the maturity of your child. Can you trust them with money? Are they typically a good kid? Do you think they would run up tons of minutes? If you think they are ready, go for it. Also, they have phones now that have like 4 buttons, and 4 buttons only. You program 911, home number, and whatever numbers you want, so you know they will only be calling those numbers.
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i think that a young girl doesn’t really need a cell phone i am 20 yrs old and i still dont own one if i wanna talk on the phone i use a house phone or a pay phone in emergencies i think its really just a waste of money so i guess i would have to agree with jenniferocious when she says when they are ready to waste i mean spend their own money on it
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I think a full-function cell phone should be her responsibility to purchase and pay for service. If she can do that by cutting lawns at age 10, fine. If you are concerned about her having a cell phone for emergencies or critical communication, get her a Jitterbug: http://www.jitterbugdirect.com/ That way, she's more likely to only use it when necessary, instead of constantly.
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Why would you think she needs one? They aren't allowed to use them in school...if they're home they can use the phone. It's touchy about things like that. You know, we survived growing up without cell phones...why does everyone think children NEED cell phones?
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My mom says I can get one when I start middle school
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I think a pay as you go phone would be suitable as soon as your child is doing things herself, such as going to school alone or out playing with friends etc. Even if your child cannot afford to buy talk time, you can still ring her to find out if she is ok. Personally I would buy the most basic phone there is to avoid a bigger kid taking it off her.
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When she can pay for it herself....
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I would say at 16 with an after-school job to deal with the bills from the phone.
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Well I'm 10, I've had one for 3 years, I normally get a new one at Xmas, birthday etc. My parents pay the phone bills, and in return I felt my dad out in his shop(which he owns for 3 days every month). I works out well and I take care of my phone. I think you should come to a deal with your daughter eg, she does the washing up for a week and you pay her pohne bill or she weeds the garden or something like that. I have a iphone touch, its a really great phone and easy to use I recommend it greatly.
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11 or 12
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kids these days. mmmmmmm 11? 9? I'm not sure. my fiance's sister was 8 and had one but she was also acting in Hollywood and the mom needed to keep track of her more
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as soon as possible because a phone is for communication and i know that parents always are wondering where there kids are. but, if they are realy young give them a crappy one and tell them if they take good care of it you will buy them a realy good one
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Grand-daughter just turned 9 years old and her parents got her a cell phone. The use is supposed to be for after school only and also communicating with her parents during the day, if needed. We'll see how that works out!
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When she starts going out places.
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i think a lot of these people are missing the point. or maybe i am. my son doesnt live with me. he lives with his mother. so basically i can call him 20 times a day and unless he gets to the phone(which at home is no problem but they are often out). its at his mothers discression when i talk to him. HE WILL have a cell phone by age 10. as far as him paying for it??? get real. i already pay for unlimited everything as it is and adding a line really isnt much more.
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I started to give her my phone wherever she goes when she was 7 or 8. By 9 she got her permanent one. For her 12th birthday a week ago she got a nice iphone.
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depends on the child, my daughter had one when she was 9
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Too many kids are being handed cell phone with the WORKS ... by their parents just to keep them out of their hair .... KIDS under 18 , at least ... do NOT "Need" a damm cell phone ... and NO ONE can concince me otherwise .... IF they need to call their parents there are phones all over the place at other kids homes , stores, and local businessses .... Cell Phones are needeed by Businesspersons like doctors, lawyers, realtors, and others .... NOT by some little 9 - 10 year old who just spends half their time "TEXTING" her / his friends ..... IF a young person is 16 years of age , has a JOB , and can pay for their own phone and the monthly BILLs associated with it ... then fine ; get one IF it is THAT necessary to your social life ... I wonder how we all got along before the great Cell Phone came along ... ? I'm 59 years young , have done law enforcement , retail sales, massage therapy , bail enforcement, and other jobs .... and ; I'm STILL alive .... and NEVER ever used a CELL PHONE ! What a Surprise .... !!
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Even though I was responsible and was mature enough for a phone I didn't get one until I was 18 my grandma was a real hard ass and didn't think I needed one. I remember when I had moved back in my grandma would tell me to get off the phone or stop texing when I PAID FOR MY PHONE! I just remember getting pissed off and told her if she didn't pay my bill she had no right to tell me how much I could talk on my phone. She just liked bitching at me. Her church convinced her that people use cell phones to gossip and that was a sin. Anyway back to an appropriate age, I think 16 is a good age. I remember needing a cell phone ALOT to contact my grandparents and always had to call collect from a pay phone.
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I got my son his phone in 7th grade when he began walking to school on his own.
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Never. When she is making her own money, she can decide if this is a priority for her.
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I think you should get her one when you feel she is responsible enough or when she reaches high school.
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maybe about 15 because it can come in handy if she's out and about if she needs any help she can contact you or the police and if she doesn't have a phone and goes out and gets into any difficulty she won't be able to contact you. So a phone can be handy in those situations.
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12 years old be a good age.
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when are you planning on letting her stay home alone and go places without you?
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As soon as she's able to drive. Then you will be able to stay abreast of her whereabouts. She can get a part time job to help pay the bils.
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It's fine to get her one now but you may want to get a pay as you go as they can really rack up the minutes fast.If you add her to your plan make sure to get unlimited texting as that is what the kids mostly use.My daughter's 11 & she's had hers about a yr. & is very responsible.I like that she has it since I work & she can call me or text whenever she needs & I can call her when she's w/ friends or at a sleepover to check in.It's a extra measure of safety in these times.
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I think it's a good idea for all children to have a cell phone now. The restrictions on it are up to you - I suggest that you give her an emergency only phone if she's younger (grade school), then start allowing her more usage as she gets older.
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Whenever they have so much going on you can't keep up with it anymore. My daughter was 10 at the time she got one.
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I got mine when i was 11.
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Excuse me, i think you will find I am not the only 10-year-old here, there are children here who are 7, I have met meny of friends here who are the same age.
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