A 7-year old with a cell phone???

KillarneyRose · #1 02-28-2003, 11:36 PM

My husband wants to get our 7 (soon to be 8) year old daughter her own cell phone. He says it would be good for to have when she's at day camp this summer and when she is over playing at her friends' houses.

I think the idea is absolutely ridiculous! Shoot, I like to waste money as much as the next guy, but I was 34 when I got my cell phone and I don't see why she just can't ask to use the phone at her friends' houses like I did.

I told him he has more money than sense but he's really become attached to this idea of his.

What do you all think of this lunacy?

KappaTarzan · #2 02-28-2003, 11:50 PM

i work in the wireless industry, and have for 2.5 years.. you'd actually be suprised how common it is for parents to get preteen children their own phones. my only suggestion would be if you DO get her a phone, ge ta prepaid so she can't use ridiculous amounts of minutes, therefore costing you even more ridiculous amounts of dollars..

isn't it funny how modernized this world is becoming? someday home phones will be all gone

damasa · #3 02-28-2003, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KappaTarzan

isn't it funny how modernized this world is becoming? someday home phones will be all gone

Hell, many are already. A lot of my friends don't even have a house line. They use their cellphones and with all of this free nationwide long distance, why not?

carnation · #4 02-28-2003, 11:58 PM

The thing is, you don't want her to get hooked on using it! Especially if they're forbidden to take them to school--we know quite a few kids who have been suspended for taking theirs (their school does it to cut down on drug deals, ringing phone disruptions, and kids having the nerve to phone each other in class). We also know several whose phones have been stolen, as children aren't good at keeping them in sight.

pinkyphimu · #5 03-01-2003, 12:03 AM

if your child was 14 or 15, i would do it.....but 8......ummm, nope. there is no reason an 8 yr old should be in a situation (like going to the mall or movies alone) that they might need to reach you. if her friends live in another state so that a call to you would cost money......then ok. since i highly doubt this is the case, your daughter could use their phone!!!! soon enough, your daughter will be glued to a telephone, so cherish this time!!!!

NinjaPoodle · #6 03-01-2003, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
My husband wants to get our 7 (soon to be 8) year old daughter her own cell phone. He says it would be good for to have when she's at day camp this summer and when she is over playing at her friends' houses.

I think the idea is absolutely ridiculous! Shoot, I like to waste money as much as the next guy, but I was 34 when I got my cell phone and I don't see why she just can't ask to use the phone at her friends' houses like I did.

I told him he has more money than sense but he's really become attached to this idea of his.

What do you all think of this lunacy?

Ummm...NO

Re: having it at summer camp--Isn't the point of resident/day camp is to get the kid into someting other that what they can do at home?Ie new experiences, new friends, etc.. They have phones avalible at the camps if the child needs (not wants) to call home. I spent my childhood summers (ages 7-18) at camp (sleepover) and would never dream of calling home for anything. As a matter of fact, I always cried --until I was about 16-- on the last day. Working in the camp industry, it's a big no-no to even send phones and other electronic devices with the camper. We've always sent a packing list to the parents of what to bring and what not to bring. We include on that form a statement that ANY items from that no-no list will be confiscated and returned to the child on the last day of the camp. Sorry for the tangent but I'm adament about kids having a GREAT camp experience.

I say wait until your daughter is older, like 14 or 15 when it is legal for her to work. That way, she will appreciate the value of a dollar and can purchase her own phone or at least contrrbute to the bill.

DeltAlum · #7 03-01-2003, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
this lunacy?

That would pretty well sum it up for me.

queequek · #8 03-01-2003, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KillarneyRose

I think the idea is absolutely ridiculous! Shoot, I like to waste money as much as the next guy, but I was 34 when I got my cell phone and I don't see why she just can't ask to use the phone at her friends' houses like I did.

What do you all think of this lunacy?

Well, things changed. Like, maybe Internet. Your parents might say, "Oh, I started using the internet when I was 50" and what would you say? Things changed.
So, I would agree to allow 7 year old to have his/her own cell phone. It becomes handy one of these days, and becomes one of the prime need for people.

queequek · #9 03-01-2003, 02:10 AM

OH, one more thing. Have you guys seen the Swordfish, the movie? There is a young girl with cell phone, and it became really handy for her (and for her dad).
You can keep in track where your kids are, and they can reach you wherever. Don't assume that your kids are always going to be around you, because nowadays, they are not! Especially if you live in a big city (like, Los Angeles or New York)

33girl · #10 03-01-2003, 03:13 AM

Unless she's going to be going places by herself in her new car

or you're going to leave her in the wilderness for a few weeks, A 7 YEAR OLD DOESN'T NEED A CELL PHONE!! Crazy!!

LeslieAGD · #11 03-01-2003, 09:07 AM

I can see your husband's logic, but it is misplaced. A 7/8 year old does not need a cell phone. I don't think you would be allowing you daughter to go to friends' houses or a camp that you could not trust to call you if there was a problem. My suggestion is to wait until she's 14/15 and going out places (ie - getting dropped off at the mall or the movies, etc). Otherwise, she'll just be forming an attachment to a cell phone too early in life.

CrimsonTide4 · #12 03-01-2003, 11:54 AM

She DOES NOT need a cell phone. Tell your husband to get her a weekly allotment of ROLLS of QUARTERS, STAMPS (for camp), have a Coke and a smile and STOP WASTING MONEY.

On the other hand, I would like a new cell phone and he can be my sponsor.

DWAlphaGam · #13 03-01-2003, 12:04 PM

My mom got my 13-year-old brother a cell phone for his last birthday, and I think it's ridiculous. It's nice for when he's out somewhere, but he forgets to bring it with him about 3/4 of the time. I think it would be cheaper just to make sure the kid always has change on him so he can use a pay phone or to buy a prepaid phone card for him to carry around.

cash78mere · #14 03-01-2003, 12:07 PM

that is crazy.

your husband is treating her like she is a teenager/young adult. let children be children. it may seem cool to her to have one, but it is a crazy idea. she is in what, 1st or 2nd grade?

buy her a new doll and let her use a house line. being 7, she shouldn't be out of sight of an adult at a friend's house so if she absolutely needs a phone, they can find one for her.

Thrillhouse · #15 03-01-2003, 06:07 PM

thats crazy, thats awfully young to have a cell phone. I only recently got mine. The youngest I had ever heard of having their own cell phone is a 16 year old.