» Should a 9 years old have a cell phone?

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Should a 9 years old have a cell phone?

18 February 2008 15 Comments

Saturday my son received his birthday present (a little late but worth waiting for) from his grandmother and grandfather (my in laws). It was money and together with the money he already had on his piggy he discovered that he could buy what he has been asking for for a long time, and we have been denying for a long time: a cell phone.

Since the age of 6 that my nephews have cell phone but I always refused to give one to my son. I didn’t think it was something essential for his daily life and he was too young to know the real purpose of a cell phone, that for me is essential calls, emergency calls and little more.

Now he’s 9 years old and he has enough money to buy the cell phone he wants. Well, he had enough money and we bought the cell phone.

At the age of 9 he already has the notion that the cell phone is not a toy but on the other hand:

It has games
It has radio
It has MP3 player
It has camera
It has video
It has more than I have.

I have a very basic cell phone and right now it’s enough for me. My son now has, and this is my point of view, an excellent cell phone and I truly hope he treats it well. If he loses it or damages it he knows that for a few long years he won’t have another one.

The question is: Does a 9 year old boy needs a cell phone?
Negative points of view:
No he doesn’t. It spoils him, makes him a show off. I’m going to have problems with cash control, he’s going to call all his friends (I hope I’m wrong), he’s going to receive messages with those abbreviated words that I sometimes have difficulty in understanding; he’s going to call me everyday just to use the phone.

Positive points of view:
I don’t have to go to school on my lunch break to know if he’s better from his tooth ache;
If he forgets something at home I can send him a message saying I will bring him that at school, so that he isn’t worried about it.

OK…I need more positive points of view…
The reality is that I still think he’s too young for a cell phone. He already has internet at home, friends in MSN messenger, PS2, GameBoy, MP3, why a cell phone that is better than mine?

Oh more positive points of view:
Now I can take pictures and make digital videos with his cell phone ( I don’t have a video digital camera).
I can use his calendar for birthday reminders

I’m really afraid that he will ruin the cell phone by taking it to school and daycare. The first day is going to be critical because he’s going to show it to everybody. I know…I should trust more on his care for his things. I hope he can prove that to me with the cell phone, because with other stuff he’s a “head in the wind”, he never knows where he leaves his stuff.

My boy is growing and I have to let him grow. He’s not my baby anymore and although a pleasure seeing him growing it scares me.

Here is an article about this subject: Talk to Your Kids About Cell Phone Use

Did you let your children have a cell phone at what age? Or when do you think you will let your children have a cell phone?

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15 Comments »

holli said:

I think Ali has one that can only dial certain numbers (like home and Nana and Poppy, as well as 911 *I think*). I think those are a good idea.

holli’s last blog post..playGround.

# 18 February 2008 at 5:08

Neto said:

Hi.. I´m here again.. As I don´t have children I´ll make a comment about my niece Yasmim. She´s the same age as your son, but has no cell phone yet. However she uses her mother´s cell phone more than her own mom. Regards!

Neto’s last blog post..Starting the week…

# 18 February 2008 at 9:08

Laura (author) said:

Holli: Most kids around here have cell phone and I believe most parents don’t control the calls. I’m keeping an eye on him and on his text messages…just in case.For know he has full access but he will soon spend the money and realize that he has to be careful with the calls.

# 18 February 2008 at 10:24

Laura (author) said:

Neto: I believe that . My son only now is having contact with text messages and MSN messenger so it’s all new for him. He’s really happy with all this.

(Open you comments on your blog so that I can comments there)

# 18 February 2008 at 10:28

Mags said:

Hello Laura,
I’m new here and find your site fascinating. Real life stories love it!! My girls got their first cell phones at different ages, the first one at 14, the second at 13 and the third at 11. It will be interesting to see when the fourth will get it.

Mags’s last blog post..The Word “Friend” Also Means “Acquaintance”

# 22 February 2008 at 4:06

Cassie said:

My 8 year old has been asking for one for a couple of years and keeps telling me all her friends who have one. I agree that she is too young right now. I am holding out for a couple more years.

Cassie’s last blog post..New Printable Colgate $1 Coupon

# 22 February 2008 at 3:25

Lynne said:

My daughter got to beta test the kajeet.com cell phone service. This was really cool because it was a real cell phone with awesome parental controls. It’s a pay as you go service and she used it when she was 10 until this past spring when I decided to put her on our family plan. Kajeet allows the parent to go online and select black out time (hours during school for example) when the phone won’t work. There are many other controls that I liked about it as well.
I didn’t really like those “for kids” phones, they’re very limiting, most only allow 3-6 phone numbers to be programmed in. That just wasn’t enough for us.

# 22 February 2008 at 11:10

Laura (author) said:

Mags: Thanks for the comment.
My son has been asking for one cell phone since the age of 6. I always though he was too young for one.
The reality is that we are getting very dependent on Cell Phones. My problem right now is “cellphone money control” that will give another post.

# 23 February 2008 at 6:17

Laura (author) said:

Cassie: I would like to wait a couple of years too but my excuses just weren’t working anymore. Once he got the money from birthday gifts and people always say “buy something you want”, well…

# 23 February 2008 at 6:19

Laura (author) said:

Lynne: Here the kids plans available also limit the phone to a few numbers. At home he uses the internet site to send messages (free) and when he is out, just necessary calls…

# 23 February 2008 at 6:22

LiteralDan said:

As a general rule, I would say “No way” without thinking about it, but I suppose it depends on the child. I think the idea of a limited-access phone (mentioned above) is a very good idea, if you can arrange that.

Oh how I dread these discussions in less than a decade from now. Who knows what new “fabulous technology I desperately need” they’ll have then??

LiteralDan’s last blog post..Frosty’s premies

# 29 February 2008 at 4:45

Laura’s Daily Life: » Blog Archive » How do I explain to my son that money is…money said:

[...] having a little trouble in controlling my son’s cell phone money. When he has money to spend he sends messages to his friends especially to his girlfriend. [...]

# 9 April 2008 at 4:30

Laura’s Daily Life: » Blog Archive » How do I explain to my son that money is…money said:

[...] having a little trouble in controlling my son’s cell phone money. When he has money to spend he sends messages to his friends especially to his girlfriend. [...]

# 9 April 2008 at 4:30

Laura’s Daily Life: » Blog Archive » Bad grades vs cell phone = trouble said:

[...] weeks ago I wrote about my son’s cell phone and my doubts about he having one at the age of 9. I must say I had a bad experience with that cell [...]

# 21 May 2008 at 12:50

Buy Better and Have a Better Life » Blog Archive » My son’s birthday party is Sunday said:

[...] he decided to buy a cellphone. Last year he had a Nokia 5200 but it stopped working and believe me I don’t think he needs one although sometimes I regret not having a way to reach him. So, he chose a simple Samsung once we [...]

# 29 January 2009 at 2:46