Oranjemund Online

What is the correct age for a child to own a cellphone?

Don't mock me, even though I own a cellphone, I only use it on the odd occassions, I am one of those nutters who gets a headache for an hour after using the damn thing for anything longer than a minute!

are-you-there

When they can pay for the airtime themselves....  sorriso2

Jenny reckons eight years old but then again she is sticking up for her youngest granddaughter

A difficult  subject ... cellphones have made life so much easier , and as a tool in these  different and dangerous times a wonderful method for parents and their kids to keep contact .. problem is  the phones have taken over kids lives ,, they  in effect are abusing  what it is .. messaging gaming , internet , rudely in company , isolating themselves from mainstream ... and yes making more and more demands for the best and latest ...  I say yes but there should be a basic phone .. veery basic .. calls and messages only .. somthing like the phones of years ago ... and yes airtime budgeted  strictly ... It  boils down  as well to  responsible parenting  to set and keep the boundaries ..

I suppose we invent these things and they will be used, and children will no doubt want to have them its the IN THING for them.
I agree with Sandy there have to be rules and penalty's for breaking them.

The problem at what age!! we are about to experience that with the oldest (grandchild) she will be 10yo this month and the requests
are coming in now.

If you can afford them go for it,
There is the brain tumor scare will it be an issue in later life ......well ??????................................. image04

I totally agree with you Sandy & Frank. This intrusion into private life whilst say when in a resturant and someones phone goes off is so annoying.
As I'm writing this, our cell phone has just received an SMS, no doubt it is from the girls but is it really necessary?

These phones are very useful in an emergency but and as you say should be only able to receive and send calls and messages.

Frank, as you know it was Shannon's 11th birthday on the 19th and yes, she had a cell phone for her birthday. As far as I know though she is being very good with the amount of time being spent on the phone and I hope this continues but the control should still lay with the parents.

I don't realy have a strong opinion on this one.
My eldest 2, only got there's when they left school back in 1995.
My youngest got one at about 16yrs.
I paid for the phone but they had to pay for all their calls.

I bought my neice one last year for christmas...she was 9...
It is a pay as you go so it is monitored by her parents.
I suppose the way things are today it is a good way for parents and child to have contact.....when they are away from each other. We will find there will be people for and others against at the end of the day it is down to the parents

Absolutely Barbara.

Problem seems to be later on Mike when boys and girls start interacting.

Just like their hormones !! out of control !! that's when parental persuasion will have to kick in.

If they kids (teenagers) can pay for their time then so be it ............................................................................................. image04

It's the same with the PC, there are so many unsavoury people using the net these days. No matter what we want do or say, these kids will still find out for themselves though. Must admit, we were all young once but without the influence of modern technology.

As to paying for their cell phone use, I still say parents must have some control.

I agree with you Mike parental intervention is a must with kids on PC phones 'etc' its funny I was looking through the members we have on this site the young lady above myself (Toodles) made one post and said (you people live in the dark ages) and yes maybe we do.

Their time will come.

I noticed in the poll for this post that one of the questions 'When they become responsible!' I am  sorriso2 while typing this "OK" when is that.
"Oops" crickets back on !! see you later.................................... image04