At what age should I get my daughter a cell phone?

My stock answer to this used to be "When SHE can afford it". My 8 year old has been asking for a phone for at least a year now because "...all my friends have one!" (Which, by the way ALL of her friends DO NOT have one). My husband and I decided that it would be useful for us to keep an "extra" cell phone for our children if they should happen to need it when they went somewhere without one of us and they wanted to come home early or felt uncomfortable asking to use someones cell. Also, they are NEVER to have it in school or give the number out to any friends. Guess what? So far, neither of them has used it. I guess it just depends on the childs responsibility level, the familys financial situation, and how often the children are not with the parents. Good luck.

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I don't think it's so much of a question of age as a question of necessity. I'll take a couple of people I know as examples. One mother gave her son a prepaid cellphone when he was only 10, because he was going to be taking the city bus alone to get to an activity on a regular basis. He got a cellphone on a plan with data, texting and such when he was 12, because he was to be taking the train into the city every day to go to a private school, so would need to check in with home much more frequently. On the other hand, another woman I know never bought her son a cellphone because he rarely left the neighbourhood...his high school was only a few blocks away. He used to complain once in a while that all his friends had cellphones, but it was never really a big issue for him. So he only got a cellphone when he was 18, starting college, had a part-time job and could pay his own bills.

So there you go...if your daughter is going to be going places alone relatively far from home and you won't have any other way of contacting her, then sure, consider getting her a cellphone. Just make sure you start out with a PREPAID phone. Teens can get in a lot of trouble if you start them out on a contract...I've heard many overage fee horror stories!

My kids are 17, 13 and 9. I don't think there is a magic age. My 17 year old got her phone when she started middle school. We had a deal that as long as she was "active" at school, she could have a cell phone because she would need it to let me know she would be staying after. My 13 year old got hers when she was 9..she was going to an all day Karate camp for the summer and I didn't want her there with no phone. She never used it, just had it and I would make her take it if she was going anywhere without me. She is 13 now and of course, it is more important to her than when she was 9...but she too is involved in school (chorus and plays) so she needs it to call me for a ride. My son is 9 and entering 4th grade. He is just starting to ask for a phone. I told him he could have one when he starts middle school (grade 6 here). I will wait until then unless circumstances make me feel like he "needs" one.

I got my first phone the Christmas of my Freshman year of High School. (This past Christmas)

I wanted one but did not beg for one.

It came in handy a lot so I would not have to borrow someone's phone to call my dad when an after school activity was over. (I did theatre and the week of shows it was over when it was over as late a 6)

I say that 8th grade at the youngest. So 12,13 or 14. I personally think a 10 or 11 year old does not need a phone. At the middle school I went to if you had a cell phone you would get in a bunch of trouble. Any after school activity's in middle school they tell you a specific time of when that activity ends where as High School may not.

My brother did not get a cell phone until his 11th grade year. I also know kids that did not get them until they were out of High School.

However if an activity bus is going to be used in middle school I would recommend one so in case something happened you could get a hold of her.

I hope I helped and good luck.

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My son just turned 8 and asked for a cell phone because all the neighbor kids(who are a little older) have one. At first i said No..then...i changed NO to...lets wait a little while longer, you can use my phone when you want to call someone. He was ok...not happy but ok with that.

Then..he started camp for the first time...an outdoor camp. so..I started thinking, what if he wants to come home? Camp should be fun if it isn't fun, or if he is I don't want him to have to stay.(summer should be fun..camp should be fun...he should want to be there. iykwim.) so I am rethinking..not for all the time but for camp..school trips, and when he goes on playdates, it may be a good thing for him to have. My hubby doesn't agree and I get why. He would get a track phone...and we would buy minutes every 3 months since he really has noone to call..lol.

i would like to say when he starts driving...so 16 or 17. Or when I start working full time! If my kids are in school and have to stay after, or go to a babysitter ..like alot of kids do I would like them to have one.

I got my first phone when I was about to be a Freshman in high school, so I was 15. Then again, my younger siblings also got a cellphone at the same time, who were 14 and 12. I think that elementary school is rediculous for a child to have a cellphone. Maybe middle school, and definitely high school.