What Age is Best to get a Cell Phone for Your Kids?

This a tough question all parents face with kids in elementary school. What age should parents get the cell phone? Do they really need it? Are you, as a parent, really that paranoid about the need of having one or about what lack of control you will have?

In our case, the first begging from our daughter began in 5th grade and many of her friends had them. I did not see the need being great enough and I was not willing to pay for the plan. However, by the end of 5th grade, she did have one with the usual constraints. She had no Internet access, texting was unlimited (thank god!), she had the phone she wanted. There was no way I would splurge for the iPhone.

I think it simply a total waste of money and zero need for most kids to have a cell phone any younger than age 10 or 11. Just having a cell because all the friends have it and it is cool is not enough. Had there been a real need, maybe, but in our case, it was not there. Of course, I can access it at anytime and if her grades fall below 3.0, she might lose it.

Research shows that 75% of the kids ages 12+, have a cell. Makes sense. Schools have no cell phone rules. Makes sense. Parents should always set the rules for cell phone use, what conduct results in its loss and get an agreement. They should not be afraid to enforce it. If a lost or broken cell occurs and it will cost you considerable money to replace, make them wait for it. Some lessons are tough to learn.