When my kids (29 and 27) were that age, kids didn't have cell phones... or very few did. My daughter wanted one in high school so bad she could taste it.... Now they are standard and I honestly think most kids have them. I have recently remarried and have a 13 year old step-daughter. Although it is costly, I absolutely LOVE her having it. We can get ahold of her easily when she is not at home, and also when she is not home or when we are away from home for the day (or part of a day) she calls and touches base every couple of hours. Oh... and my kids... all those years ago... I bought them cell phones when the went to college so that they wouldn't be out on the road with no way to get help if they had car trouble!

If the 12 year old girl was texting something really inappropriate, then maybe mom should call mom..... but then that can cause problems too if other mom doesn't like this mom calling and complaining about her sweet little daughter and what she's texting.

Around here, age 7...with the cell phone that can dial only 3 pre-programmed numbers and 911.
Parents feel better, and it's handy to communicate with the child if there's a change in after-school plans for either child or parents - and a safety option.

Most seem to get a regular cell around 10 or 12.

Not sure how young it too young. I think it depends on the maturity of the kids and where the kids live. In most schools around here, cell phones are not allowed in school (at least not turned on). Once school is out, that's a different story. Anyway, when I needed to get a message to my DD, I just called the school and they gave it to her. There was never a problem. But I do know that some schools do not do this. Also, I think it depends on if the kids are living with parents that do not live together or if they are coming home to an empty house.

Personally, I think that 12 is too young without at least a lot of restrictions. I'm thinking the parents could have the text message feature disconnected and a couple of preprogrammed numbers entered and that's it. That seems like a much better option to protect your kids and still keep in touch.

I'm turning into such an "ole foggey". The cell phone wouldn't bother me; in this day and age I think they're becoming a necessity.

Let me preface this rant with...I am not, and was not a prude. Went a little too far the other way during my late 20s and 30s. Still, there's a time and place and situation for everything.

So, what would have me through the roof in this situation is a 12-year-old girl thinking she had a "boyfriend." She wouldn't be calling a boy; she wouldn't be texting a boy; she wouldn't be sitting by a boy; she wouldn't be speaking about a boy. And if I had a son, I'd be twice as wary to keep the little hoochie-mammas-in-training away from him. Ask my poor, long-suffering nephew about his formative years living with me.

And, he still loves me and we can laugh about it now!

DGD#3 is 8 y o and several of her friends have cells. Seems awfully young to me!

To me, a cell phone is not a fun new tech toy to give a child for a cool gift. Not like "when is old enough for a 2-wheel bike?" It's not a toy. If a cell phone is being given to a child as entertainment the kid is too young. And the person giving it to them is too immature.

My oldest has a cell phone. We got it for him this summer, he is 15. We had reached a point where he was away from home, and allowed to go more independently. I was calling his friends' cell phones and asking for him. So we got him his own. It seemed appropriate at this point, and has proved very useful. I think it's important, though, to be able to go without it. They can me lost/stolen/uncharged/get no signal. So I still want contact info for anywhere he goes. Besides, teens can lie. ;o) Lets him know he's not being given a blank ticket.

But for our 12 y/o and almost 9 y/o, we have no plans for cell phones in the near future. There is no practical reason yet. They do not go anywhere I cannot call on a landline, or with an adult whose cell phone # I have, or that I can't just shout out the door "get over here."

They are like any other phone, a useful tool. Not a toy. I guess lots of people consider them a source of entertainment. But I don't like toys that come with a monthly bill.

And if I knew about rauncy messages DS received from a girl, I would tell her parents if I knew how to contact them. But that issue is not limited to kids with cell phones. If I found a raunchy note handwritten on paper, I would respond the same way. If the behavior I observed could put a child in harm, physically or emotionally, I would speak up. I would not be judgemental, I wouldn't just be "tattling." I would just say "hey, FYI, this message came from your daughter/son." And that's it. Do with the info whatever they will.

I gave my two daughters cell phones in high school, I guess they were about 13 or 14. Not allowed in school, they kept them in their backpacks turned off. I told them, if I call you and the phone isn't on, or you don"t answer it, I take it away. T%hey understood. I liked the phones because I knew where they were after school, etc.

My 12 year old GS has one, but I know, being as he lives with his mommie dearest, there is NO control :o(

I got my son a pay as you go phone last year (7th grade) when he was leaving to D.C. I set it up, but when the initial minutes ran out it became his responsibility to buy the minutes. Actually it is in my purse until his math grade improves. My 11 year old doesn't have one.
I think it is rediculous for a child to have them. They are mostly a status symbol and a toy. I relax on that if your child is walking home from school/practice, or going home to an empty house. Even then they have a house phone. I am a SAHM and I drive my kids just about everywhere. They haven't been turned loose on the town.
I was almost thirty before I had a cell phone. My mom and I managed just fine.

In my neighborhood kids get them as soon as they are old enough not to lose them and that seems to be at 7 or 8y/o.

You have to realize that many families nowdays do not have landlines. It does not cost much more to add a phone to a family plan. It also solves the problem of someone tying up the phone if there is only one landline at home. Each family member has their own number and can make calls anytime with no fighting. I think that a lot of parents get them for young kids so they can always reach them and the kid can always call 911 or a parent for emergencies.

Most of these young kids have rules as to how the phones can be used and some are more restricted than others. I found out that at the local grade school phones are collected from kids and returned at the end of the day before they walk home from school.

Our children got cell phones when they were able to pay for them. They've been able to handle them just fine.

Sheryl

I gave Anna one when she was 10. The main reason I did was because Bob was in the hospital so much, many times unexpectedly through the emergency room. Before she had the phone I had to leave him alone at the ER to get home when Anna got out of school to get her and go right back to the hospital, which was 20 miles each way.
After she got the phone I could call to let her know where I was and when I would be home and give her instructions about staying with a specified neighbor.
I'm no longer working and I'm home schooling her now so that reason no longer exists, but I do like being able to call her on the phone when it's time to come in to eat supper. She is not allowed to send text messages.

47 LOL I don't even own a cell phone. When my son moved out of state, I took his until the contract ran out, had it about a year, only got cell calls when I was out Wally World. I'm only there one hour a week, leave me alone and let me get my shopping done. I offered to get one for my DD when she went off to college, she said no, she thinks they give people brain tumors. She has a land line in her dorm room. SO has one that is his very best friend. I don't get it. Never felt like I couldn't live without one.

I am really gonna tick someone off here,,,but I dont think some ADULTS are old enough for cell phones!!! We managed for years without them.My hubby and I are in our 60s and still dont have one,but are considering it just for safetys sake when we are out and about and need help or whatever. For the most part,cell phones are used as TOYS, IMHO!!!I live in a small town and every kid I see has one,even little kids.Its like they are a growth attached to their ear.I feel sorry for them.What are the parents thinking!!!

Caroline - no worries about ticking me off - I agree. DH and I got ours when I was pregnant and commuting long distances. Then we stopped carrying them until around 6 years ago. We started again so that the kids school would have an emergency # if we had to go out of town during the school day. I almost NEVER talk on mine and think it is mostly another thing to throw my money at. Half the time I don't even answer the land line. I love the freedom of not having to talk on the phone if I don't want to. I definitely have days where I just need to disconnect from everyone. It bothers me so much to see and hear everyone around me gabbing on the phone all the time, HANG UP, try communicating with a little eye contact for a change. Get to know the people around you. Or at LEAST use a little discretion. I see kids walking home from school in groups all talking on the phone. Yes I agree they are mostly toys. They are a status symbol just like what shoes you wear or if you have a MySpace page. They are a way to judge importance and measure worth, I see it all the time. And hear it too everytime my son says "but mom my phone doesn't play songs or take pictures, and everyone is telling me my phone sucks and I should get the new ---- phone." At our small town baseball and football games (where I spend most of my time) I regularly watch people call from one bleacher to the other. GET UP and walk over and have an actual conversation. Ok, now I'm ranting. I do have issues. LOL!

One of the things to at least think about when getting a cellphone for a child, is that many of today's phones have the 'locator' capability which means that the parent can push a button on THEIR phone, and see where the child is. It's a kind of GPS feature. Great for teenagers who are out after curfew, also for kids who are late getting home from school, etc. I think that's a pretty neat feature, sure could've used it when my kids were young!

From a kid's perspective, a cell phone is very much a toy! They think it's fun and so do all their friends. I'm not only talking about 'kids', I mean everyone under the age of 35. Only us Old Foggies think of them as just a phone. It's so much more than that. It is their primary means of communication. And it's a toy too with games and music.

I think part of this whole discussion should be about the use of good judgement... Like the 15 yo girl who took a nude photo of herself with her cell & sent it to friends... now the authorities are considering charging her AND those she sent the photo with child pornography ... conviction would require them to be deemed 'sex offenders & required to register as such for the rest of their life'... [whether you agree with the possibility of them being charged...]
The topics discussed with kids should include the facts about things that are sent/posted online are there forever .. or someone else can use/share later... and it can affect the rest of 'your life'...
Facebook - Myspace - etc... are surfed by potential employers, college admissions, etc...
What has happened to good judgement, ethical behavior, etc
other than it's not being modeled by their parents, families, end of rant... sorry... got carried away...

Based on what I've seen with the children of friends and family, it seems to be the texting that gets them in trouble. My sister was having major problems with my niece and sought to get the text messages and the phone company (Verizon I think) said they don't keep them. It's deliver and dump, so unless it's still on the phone there is no way to see them. We also have a friend whose daughter is being harrassed via text messages.