At what age do kids get cell phones?   

10 - wow! Now why do you think kids need a cellphone by age 12? Did you really need a cellphone at 10 years old?

Ok, with this post you answered my question above. So you need to be able to communicate with your parents at all times. Honestly, did you use it more with your friends, or did you really use it only to contact your parents?

I can understand that if they are of driving age, then they can handle the responsibility of having a cell phone (well, one would hope - ha ha). But if they are still quite young, it's just really hard for me to see the need for a cell phone - like you said if they are only in school during school hours (I would think the school could contact me if need be).

Well, if you got one after graduating college, I should hope you knew what responsibility was by then - ha ha. I didn't get one til my late 20's (I think) and for some reason I could live without a cell phone back then - ha ha.

When does your son carry the phone for emergencies? Does he get to carry it school too? I'm just curious how this cell phone things works with parents and kids. I hear all these stories about kids using up too many minutes or texting in the middle of the night. I hope when I give my kids a cellphone, using it as an emergency tool will be fine enough!

Now you sound very sensible as parents. I can't imagine giving my little a cellphone in just a few years from now . . . I can see it as an emergency tool, but from what I hear most kids don't use it just for emergencies. I was thinking minimally a young teen would be good. I agree people are glued to the phone - and not even talking now but with texting. It's crazy!

Thank you for thinking we are sensible. Lots of people would say we were depriving him of a given right lol. People are actually getting injuries from texting too much. Texters thumb instead of tennis elbow.

Texters thumb - hee hee - I believe it! I can understand peer pressure, but that doesn't mean they have the right to have something if they don't deserve it or are not responsible enough. Heck, I wanted brand named shoes when I was in junior high - my parents didn't let me have them just because everyone else had them - I had to deserve them! But we're talking when I was 14 ... I can't believe younger kids want/need cell phones!

Yah, that's what I've heard - that elementary kids are already carrying them - ahhhh! The way my daughter loses things, I just don't know when she'll be ready and responsible to have one! Yikes is right!

As it is, Dearra forgets to charge hers half the time...

Um, that would be me too!

Not me, well almost never...

They didn't really have cell phones when I was 17, ha ha. Yah, I think we'll have to feel it out as to when we will allow our kids to have cell phones. First and foremost I need to know if they can be responsible to take care of a phone (and to not lose it) and the usage of it (like to not rack up the minutes!). And I'll have to take into consideration the stuff she does outside of school too, I'll need to know where she is!

Isn't it funny how kids today know so much about technology - much more than we were kids?! My daughter likes talking on my cell too (to her Daddy), and she has expressed wanting a smart phone after seeing it on tv, but there is no way we would let her have one at this age. She is allowed on the computer, so she can do all the games or go to her favorite websites there. Interesting, I wonder if peer pressure is different in other countries . . . everyone starts too young with everything here.