I'm curious WHY parents don't want to get their kids phones earlier. Is it just the expense? I have a 6y.o. and I am considering getting him one for Christmas. Nothing fancy, just something I can text him on/ he could call me on. (who else would he call anyways? None of his friends have phones!) Some times I just think of things that I would like to be able to text him (like if the plan changes afterschool). My husband disagrees, so we are in discussions. :)

OH! The other reason I would like to get him a phone is that we do not have a home phone, just cells for my husband and I. So if, God forbid, there was an emergency, I would like my son to be able to call 911 without having to try to find one of our phones.

My 11 year old has a phone. He gets it when he goes to a friend's house on his own or to practice. He can text me or call me when plans change otherwise it stays charging with my phone. Sometimes he'll take it along somewhere to play a game, but otherwise, he doesn't have it in his grasp until I ask him to bring it along. I've found sometimes that once kid's have something, the infatuation wears off and it no longer becomes the be all end all thing to have/do.

My son got his at 15 (when he started really spending time out after school without any parents around and we realized all the payphones were gone) and my girls will not be any sooner. Cell phones are just another stressor - more pressure put on them to always be accessible, sometimes making them too accessible, not to mention a safety issue - it's crazy the trackable information transmitted by something as simple as a photo taken from a cell phone. Years ago we cut the home line and used only cell phones but when our oldest daughter started staying home alone, we reinstalled the home phone. Also - the land of excess we live in is creating little monsters full of entitlement. It's ok for kids to be kids, to go outside and play instead of sit on the couch and text their friends across the street. Plenty of time to be adults when they are actually adults.

AS A GRANDMOTHER I BELIEVE A CHILD SHOULD HAVE A CELL PHONE BY AT LEAST 10 YRS OF AGE.

Reasons..Safety Issues, Security, Changes in plans,Emergency issues to alert parents or grandparents.
They can be programed for just certain numbers coming In or out & what times are available for their use..One of my grandaughters got left at school NO PHONE!!!!

I don't even have a cell phone. What did they do in the old days?

Cell phones are the devils right hand.

Whats in his left hand?

A TV remote

my kids are 8,10,14 and they all have cell phones. they all got them last year for safety reasons. all of my children walk to and from school. i want my children to be able to dial 911 just incase something were to ever happen while i am not around that in itself could be a life or death situation for not only my children but for someone elses child.

I was in HS in the 80's. I was active and took part in sports and band. I had no problem getting where I needed to go and being where I needed to be without a phone. My son is 3, and I'm sure things will be drastically different in 10 years, but I'm hoping to hold out as long as I can. Just seems so dangerous and, frankly, quite stupid to put so much responsibility in a kid's hand.

I think there is more to having the phone than just using it for emergencies and communication with parents. We made the decision to get our kids phones in middle school, and it is great for contacting each other. What's not so great is the constant texting between kids that also accompanies the privilege of having a phone.

Our Naperville pediatrician advocates for children not to have a cell phone and if absolutely necessary then ONLY for texting. More and more physicians are speaking out about the impact of radiation exposure to a child, from cell phones. A child's skull is smaller and thinner than an adult, which allows for radiation to reach farther into the childs brain.

http://www.cutcat.com/item_images/Cell%20Phones%20Carlo.pdf