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How do you feel about teenagers having cell phones?

My daughter is 13 and will be 14 in December. She is asking for a cell phone, and I know just about all her friends have their own cell phone. I just feel like it's not really necessary. I told her when she gets a job  and can pay for it she can have one. LOL I know when she starts driving we'll definitely get her one but for now I just don't know. My husand and I both have one, and we will usually give her one of ours if she needs one.

What do you guys think?

Great rules. I'm gonna print these off and when I decide to let her have her own phone, I'll pull them out and make her sign a contract. With a phone come responsibility. Right?

My daughter started off carrying a cell phone when she began driving. Saved my sanity! She calls cell phones a 2-way leash. It allows you to keep track of them; and them to keep track of you.  Prepaid is the route we went with my daughter. No way to go over minutes or run-up outrageous bills and of course Mom was entitled to check up on phone usage. No using phone while driving either. Too many kids are killed when driving and texting. Teach them to pull over to use the phone. When you are driving it is your most important task.

I see plenty of tweens and younger with cell phones. I think this is too young, but everyone has their own standards and rationalization. Figure out what works for your family and agree on the rules, because like anything else its easier to start with clear rules than trying to figure it out as you go. Believe me "winging it" could be very expensive.

This is a tough call. I have a 13 year old girl and 3 and 17 year boys. My 17 year old has a cell phone and has had one for a long time but he lives with his dad most of the time who let him get a phone. He has a job and pays his own bill and buys his own phones(he changes phones monthly almost).  My daughter wants a phone but I don't feel she is ready for the responsibility of a phone.  She has to be told about taking care of her stuff she has now. I told her when she turned 16 we would revisit the phone issue and she is okay with that for now.

My daughter recently had her aunt add her to her cell phone plan and then decided to let us know about it. We have alot of the same rules that kayakrn7 has too and it has worked out pretty well....so far. We were planning on getting her one but the way she went about it really upset us.  Her aunt still has not even attempted to discuss the issue with us, before or after they did this.   I'm just waiting for the first time she acts up and we take it away, to see how much it really hits her.. untill then, we'll just wait and see.

 I am afraid that all of my kids have phones even my 12 year old so that I can call if I need them home or if they have a problem they can call, a good example, last year my daughter then 11 was in her class and the teacher had not shown up the class got a little wild one kid took out a bottle she said had several different looking pills in it, all the kids gathered around (this is a private catholic school) anyways my daughter got scared that if it was drugs she could get in trouble just for being around them so she text me to call the office to tell the office they had NO teacher and someone may have drugs, I was upset to say the least but called the office they sent  the Preist to the room and sure enough the teacher has a flat and his phone had died and the office had no idea, the pills thank god were presctrip but no one knew who called the office so in this case I was glad to hear and took care before something DID happen.

kayakrn7 says ...

My daughter, now 18, received her first cell phone @ age 14. With rules:

Rule #1- you pay the $10 for the extra line each month

Rule #2- you get the free model offered with the contract- if you want fancier phone you pay for the fanxcer phone.

Rule #3- if you go over the limit on minutes, # of texts, you pay for it

Rule #4- you lose or break the phone you pay to replace

Rule #5- No calls after 9pm

Rule #6- Parents have the right to look at your address book, texts, etc.

Rule #7- Parents can creat any new rule at any time.

Rule #8- Phone will be turned off at family meals, functions, and while riding in anyone's car- and I will check!

Failure to comply by these rules results in instant turning off of cell service to your phone.

Fortunately I was blessed with a great kid and to the best of our knowledge she has followed all the rules...

I think too that these are GREAT rules, keep in min that kids are still devious little creatures...case in point:

I "grounded" my step-daughter from her phone once a while ago...she took out the sim card, put it into another phone, and had "her" phone, complete with address book, texting abilities, etc.

I am in complete agreement that they are an absolutely unnecessary "accessory".  They are an endangerment when kids start driving, because even when you "check", you can't be there to do it all of the time...(I've busted Brit on hers while driving already).  My son (not one of my step-kids - whose mom gives them the greatest up to date gadgets) got his first cell phone just this year.  He has no texting ability, and he's got the ability to call only his father, me and his step-father right now.  I told him that when he shows me that he can be responsible (call when appropriate, keep it charged, not lose it, etc) the guidlines and restrictions will change. For now he can receive incoming calls, and he seems to be happy enough with that.  I am one TOUGH mother!!!

It was great that your son had a cell phone with him when he got lost. It's a wonde he had a signal out in the woods though Must have good service. Cell phones are great in an event of an emergency, but they can be abused, especially by teenagers.

I have the Bluetooth in my new car. It's so cool. You don't even have to pick the phone up to call or answer calls.

Starlight,

I am in the same predicament that you are in with your teen..... My daughter has been asking for a while she is 12 and going to be 13 soon. All of her friends have one with unlimited text and all that and we too are uncertain as to what we should do... THe rules that were put out there are a great idea... Thanks for starting this topic as i have also gotten some great input on a subject that is close to home. Jessie

I have a 12 and 8 year old.  They both have cell phones.  I gave them cell phones for safety purposes only, not so they can look cool to their friends.  They carry them because I want them to so that I am able to contact them.