What's the right age for parents to get their kids a cell phone?

I have to say I agree. From many of your comments I now know what (some) of your schedules, friends, ages (though that was required) and other personal info are! Some advice to start letting your parents know you are mature enough to get a phone- First do some research on the proper amount of time you should even be on this phone! A recent study says that your TOTAL amount of time on screens should be SIX hours! Also talk to your parents amount different rules and limitations you should have. Then start trying to become more mature about situations- keep your grades up, help around the house, etc..... Another idea is to write up a list of pros AND cons to having a phone. Or a list of how having a phone would benefit you and how it is different from the ipod/ipad/other electronic device you already have. Hope this helps!

So I turn 14 in a month and I still do not have a cell phone! My parents are talking about getting me a cell phone so I might get my moms old one. But they will put lots of restrictions on it and I will not be allowed to access social media. I have a secret email account so haha. I am writing this on my school iPad because that's the only device I have. I also might get a Chromebook in a couple years otherwise I can only use my moms stuff. I can't even listen to music on my music player because then it will corrupt my brain. I can only watch movies with no kissing or any little romance. It is so unfair. Help me

Hi, I have been reading all of these during the day. Anyways.... I am turning 13 very soon, and I still don't have a phone I have been asking for one since I was seven, My parents are really strict because They always want me and my 8 year old sister to do sports, we both do 3 to 4 sports each. And If we are lucky we might get tv on the weekends, and if we eat really really healthy we might get dessert, if we ear lucky.... Then to make things worst my parents want me to shut down my media accounts, and None of friends are in my class, or on my bus line, or live in the country with me , or have blonde hair like me and they do privit music lessons and have their own untrument unlike me... IM BEING LEFT OUT.... my friends says that they would adopt me because my parents are so mean.... I almost wanna cry becuase I don't have a phone , I have to use the computers at school do do this and for my media accounts i use my 65 year old grandpas phone, So follow me on insta

I think 13 is an appropriate age for a smart phone. It’s late compared to some but my husband and I don’t think it’s necessary to text each other constantly or to be online a lot. Our son has a Nokia to text, call from and a lap top (provided by the school) so we feel that’s enough. He is not outside any social networks because of it and we do not have the phone eating into our time together as a family. Maybe it’ll be different for our daughter when she reaches 10-11.

I am 12 years old, on my sister's account. I have always been a good grade student, respectful, helpful and it never goes noticed. No matter what I do. I'm mature, sometimes even more than my sister. Sometimes people say the younger sibling is treated better. We are not. This might sound like bragging but i'm just sharing how I feel. I got a perfect score on my SOL, my sister barely passed it. My parents were so happy she passed, and didn't even acknowledge what I got. I always feel left out like this. I understand some families don't have enough money to pay of a phone, but I know my family does. We have 3 extra devices in our house. 1 pod, 1 extra SE, 1 iphone 4 ( hardly works). I have tried bringing it up with my parents before. Recently my mom got a new phone, same model though. Sister has 5s, she asked if she could have the old SE. My parents said no. So I was like, Could i have it? They didn't even acknowledge me. The only way I get to text , is through an Ipad. I don't have a problem with that. But whenever I use it my sister asks for it. She gets it for they rest of the day. So sometimes I literally have nothing. I always feel left out at sleepovers and at school, basically everywhere im reminded I'm that person without a phone. BTW i have one sister, idk why she made account say she is 17 she is 15!

I am 16 years old i have a phone but it is not all that good My family has prepaid i believe there's nothing wrong with it my 1st phone was a samsung Galaxy j1 it wasn't activated my 11 year old cousin has a Samsung galaxy on5 Its activated! i was so mad data and everything My family gets so MAD when i called him spoiled he has an xbox 1 a laptop and his phone he had a wii u too all he wants he gets it. I'm like why am i being left out i didn't have that stuff in 5th grade. I Am so stupid I Have low down zte maven 3 because my Samsung galaxy j1 got Smashed with a hammer. (i didn't do it) so since last year i was the dumbo without a phone... i was so depressed. Comment and like!

I am 14 years old in year 9 and had just had my birthday. I don't have a phone but my parents always call me spoilt. Saying that I do have a computer but I share it with everyone because there are no other computers apart from the one my dad uses for work all the time. My brother and sister are both in their 20s almost 30s and my parents are still paying for their devices. Altogether, my mum has a TV, a phone, an iPad and another iPad. My Dad has a Mac and an iPad. My brother has a iPhone and a computer same as my sister and her husband. My dad paid for all of them. In year 9, 99.99999% of people have a iPhone, that part missing is just me. I always feel left out when my friends have sleepovers and every one of them has a iPhone and an iPod. They have group conversations and I text them using my moms phone and she always tells me off for using it even if I'm doing something for her on the phone. I find my mom is a hypocrite here because she is always saying how none of my sibling had them at my age. YEAH, BUT IT WAS THEN, 18 YEARS AGO, AND THEN THEY GOT IT WHEN THEY WERE 15 ANYWAYS!!! AND I am in the top class in school, I usually come 3rd in the year, I do more chores than my mum, I cook dinner three times a week, I don't swear, I play 4 musical instruments, I do extra curricular activities, I am responsible and mature, I always do what she says,( and not trying to sound spoilt but, I HAVENT GOTTEN ANY CLOTHES/ PRESENTS FOR 3 YEARS, no kidding, my clothes are literally falling apart and don't fit) I do everything you could dream of, SO PLEASE HELP ME FEAL INCLUDED IN SOCIETY

Okay. This is what I will say. PHONE PROS: good way of communication (texting, calling) social interactivity with friends (social media?) you don't have to beg your parents to use their phone anymore PHONE CONS: can be addictive, so you should have some rules I am not saying you should buy your child a phone. It is completely your choice, but I would say the right age for a phone is 11-13. I hope this helps you guys on what to do.

I personally think that buying a phone for your child before the age of 12 is a stupid thing to do. Today I turn 13 and I've heard my parents discuss buying a phone for me this year. I am excited, and it IS going to happen, but it's not going to be anything special like an iPhone X or something. In fact it's not even going to be an iPhone. I'm guessing it's going to be one of those cheap Chinese phones that can still give you a decent experience. Although, being a teen, I must say this: As an 11-12 year old, not having a phone was HORRIBLE. By the time I was 11 about 75% of my grade had phones, but by the time I was 12 the number rocketed to about 90-95%. I felt (and still do) left out, I found it hard to talk to girls (egs. Me: Oh! What a nice discussion, can I have your phone num- Oh, wait I don't have one.), I missed out on ACTUAL CLASS DISCUSSIONS (Our French class had a WhatsApp group) and I found that in many situations I was bored and didn't have a way to talk to my friends. Because of these experiences, I always hated seeing 9 year old kids walking around with their huge iPhone 7s which were bigger than them. I always thought to myself, "Ugh, they had it easy." So I think getting your kid a phone at the right age can really make a huge smile on their faces.

I think that kids should not have a cell phone until middle school. Where I'm from in the south, we aint go no phones we just yodel to the next person. If you wanna tweet something, you just grab a bird out of the nearby tree and write a note on it. They're aint no "posting" or "snapping" we just shuck corn all day and when we're done we bathe in the river and hope they're aint no snakes. Anyway, cell phones are not necessary unless you're rich and have cell service.

I think parents should get kids cell phones when they are mature enough. When you see your kids are doing their homework, helping around the house, doing well in school I think that is the best time to get your child a cell phone. I got a phone when I was twelve, for safety reasons. Something you should also remember, will your child misuse their phone or get behind any rules that you have? If yes, then you should wait or put restrictions on the phone. But I think the best age to get a phone is between 11-14 because that is usually when kids are in middle school, and kids may feel left out if they are the only one without a phone.

Well, I'm 11 years old and for awhile now I've been wanting an iPhone. Okay, I'm in 5th grade and EVERYONE has an iPhone. Not even joking, all my friends have an iPhone. Like my one friend has the iPhone 7+ and it's pretty pathetic. She's SO rude to her parents and I don't know whats wrong with them, this one time she did naughty things on snapchat... SHE GOT HER PHONE TAKEN AWAY FOR 2 WEEKS! 2 WEEKS if that was my mom... oh stuff would go down! My mom would take it away for at least til' I was old and wrinkly. NOw, I have an iPod and its kinda the same but, it has no wifi when you go somewhere. Whenever we go to the mall, on her phone talking to her OTHER flippin' friends. Now I know you would say thats a bad friend but i'm stuck with her. My mom is her moms best friend. She's such a bratty rat! UGh! Well, back to the topic, I believe kids shouldn't have an iPhone til at least middle school. Yeah, yeah I want an iPhone. Let me tell you, I am so nice to my parents and I've been asking and asking and asking! No help. I'm great in school, not the best but not the worst. K, I always feel left out whenever I'm with my "friends" I feel like the ugly duck, with no iPhone and it kinda sucks. But I'm dealing with it because its not the end of the world, but my mom just doesn't get me sometimes. I'm very responsible, I've had an iPod for 3 years and 8 months ( not like I've been counting). I don't have a single scratch unlike my friend over here literally her phone is cracked for dayzz. Also I am very outgoing and very confident with myself and I believe I could handle all the bullys that come across me. Now that I have gotten my point across you should let this LECTURE sink into your head so you could persuade my family and other family's. K bye thanks!

Well in my opinion kids/teens are allowed to have phones when they are matured enough. What exactly happened to me is I told my parents and proved that I'm mature enough to handle phones as a 13-year-old who is going to do her end of year exam of year 8. I convinced them and made a poster of pros and cons. I got the highest grades and showed my parents proudly that "here I've done my part and has been doing all my chores and I'm planning on continuing on what I'm doing" Apparently I thought wrong, they didn't allow phones at all!Not even my 17-year-old brother!Quite shocking!So I was upset and we had a huge fight because my mom was the one disagreeing and wasn't allowing us to have phones. My dad was in a denial but he didn't say anything. He was like a lost puppy and followed my mom's orders and didn't even side with us. In the end, I got some beatings and didn't get a phone. My mom said it's addictive and it can lower my grades and also lead me to some dangerous and bad sites that can cause trouble unless you are trustworthy enough. Maximum 90% my mom witness that students use phones before going to school and takes it with them when it's not allowed. Well, I'm okay with that, they take phones to school but what happened was a boy from my year got his expensive iPhone 7 and wallet stolen and a girls iPhone 7 got stolen and her money. These items are not easy to spend easily. When students/ teens misuse them, they either get cracked easily and damage the phone quickly whereas fully matured adults can use a phone longer than you can imagine. That is another reason why teens should not have phones at a very young age. Your own child must have regretted something they have done but can't seem to fully erase it from the world. They get depression cause of cyberbully and must have led to suicide. ONLY if your child is strong enough to handle situations like that, once again it's completely fine for them to handle a phone rather than misusing it. There can be pedophiles out there on the internet and dragged teens to trouble and hassle which can worry the hell out of parents. People out there telling teens should have phones at the age of... 7-8?!!?Unbelievable! Parents SHOULD NOT allow their child to have phones at that age!Your child hasn't been introduced to the internet life properly and giving them a phone with no restrictions can be a big step and is very dangerous. There are many dangers out there on the internet that they are unaware of and unfamiliar with. It can all start with safety, maturity and limited time of using and using it wisely and with care. This way can show that a teen is capable enough to get a phone at the right age. I and my brother are allowed to have phones when we are going to travel to our future *so deep* or when we turn 18. I feel like this is the right age to be completely mature and make the wise decisions. But I don't know about you. This is just my opinion and from what I've seen. My dad told his best friend that I have told that "She says she is mature enough to have a phone."That time I was 12. His best friend cried out loud and said "No please don't make the same mistake!I have bought a phone for my daughter *age 14 I believe* and she has completely has been attached to it. She was listening to songs all the time, she uses her phone at late hours of the night, her behavior dramatically changed when she got her first phone and she became more demanding. I regret giving her a phone" When her dad takes her phone for few days she goes completely insane! Yes, she does well in her educations but her other activities and attitude upsets her parents. From that I have learned that this isn't the right time to have a phone. The phone can wait when it's needed. Once again this is my opinion. I don't know about yours. Please do share your thoughts on what your understanding and knowledge is on this topic.

I think it should be 22 because that's when your the most mature but a fliphone at 18 or 19 and prn at 13

Yeah, I am in HighSchool and I'm not even exaggerating when I say that everyone in my school has a phone. Even if it is a flip phone. And, I must say, sometimes I feel completely left out. Now a days even the TEACHERS automatically assume that by this age you should have a phone. You have no idea how many times a teacher has said things like. "Okay class, now take out your phones and sign up for this. I want EVERYONE to do it" and then I just sit there all awkward hoping that no one notices that I'm not taking out my phone. It is not only in my school where most teachers automatically assume the kids have phones either. In my cousins school, she says that her teacher takes attendance by having the kids put their phones in a box. (I'm assuming she knows what the kids phones look like? ha, Imma pretend like thats not kind of weird) But, the point is, everyone has a phone in 2018 and not having one can really out you in awkward situations. You can even be bullied in some cases. Now, if you are a parent... just avoid having the possibility of your child feeling like the odd one out of uncomfortable and get them a phone... That was really what I was trying to get at.. I hope this helped...

I may be a kid,but listen to me,please. It really depends on the child's responsibility,but for the average child,it would be 11 at the minimum. Sure,I got my phone in 5th grade,but that's because my parents wanted me to be able to contact them in an emergency and they know I'm responsible. 11-13 is the age when your child goes to middle school,aka the 3 years where they have to deal with bullying,grades,etc. Let's focus on bullying and emotions for now. Since middle school is the age where most children get phones. So if you don't have one,you're the one of the main targets for bullying. People might even not want to be friends with your child if they don't have a phone! Now for emotions. Sometimes on big field trips,the teacher lets the class bring their phones. Sometimes,people have their phones out,and your child is just holding schoolbooks. This can make your child feel left out and depressed. If you are thinking about getting your child a phone,I'd recommend on getting a reasonably priced Samsung,LG,etc,before building your way up to Apple when you see they are responsible. If you really want your child to be responsible,make them pay part of the phone bills,and speaking of which,I'd recommend limited text,call,and data so they will manage their phone in a mature way,instead of using it for practically the entire day. I almost forgot,get a phone that fits your budget. If your child doesn't like the phone you can afford and agree on,just ask them if they want that phone or no phone. I hope this helped! :D

I'm 12 and I think the right age to get a kid their phone is middle school. I think that I'm at the age where I should get my first phone but I haven't gotten one yet. It's hard because 75% of my friends have phones and are on social media. But I do NOT think that 4 th or 5 grade is a good time to get a phone. That's when a kid should have an iPod which is my opinion.

I am 17 years old and I just got a new phone , I Phone 8, I have always had the older phones of my friends but I kept waiting cause I knew one day I would get a newer phone. I had the 5s for 3 years ( that was after the 6 came out ) and yes I will be honest I complained about it but it was okay. All you kids that really want a new phone , don't worry about having the newest phone at such a young age , you have your whole life to have a new phone . Just go with whatever phone your parents give you and when you get old enough , get a job and work for a new phone . ( I pay $100 a month for my phone)

Kids should not be able to use a cellular device, until the age of 14+ Here's a personal conflict. Most people get really bad eyesight and also are less physically active by using a cellular device and impacts their study whatsoever. I, as a 12-year-old kid, blackmailed my parents to get a phone. Most people thought that "What you're parents won't let you get a phone?" And now I've made an article for kids not using cellular devices. Ask these questions I,e I am doing a big responsibility, is he or she really responsible to get a phone? Does the child's belongings or school equipment ever get lost? Do you think the child is old enough to consult their parents on a phone?

I'm 11 years old, and I'm in 6th grade. (I don't have a phone, and completely respect my parents views and agree with them on why I shouldn't have a phone.) Before 6th grade I always begged my parents for a phone because....everyone had one. I had to text my friends on my dad's phone and everything. It was so frustrating! And all of my friends have social media like Snapchat and Instagram that I could never have. But now I'm in 6th grade and I'm starting to notice that my friends are spending WAY to much time on social media and texting. My grades throughout 6th grade were PERFECT and all of my other friends weren't AS good. I'm not saying the reason they don't have as good grades as me is because they have a phone. But it could be a contributing factor. I think a good age to have a phone is in 9th grade, when you will have more reasons to use a phone and contact people since you are more dependent, reliable, and mature.

(F)I am starting my 8th year of school here, and I do not have a phone. For years, I have been persuading my parents to get me a phone, just like the other 'cool' kids in my 5th grade class. Eventually, I noticed that all my friends, even the 'nerdy' ones, were starting to get nice, expensive, and upscale phones like the iPhone 6+. This fueled my persuasion skills even more, and I made elaborate presentations about the iPhone and why I should deserve one. I gave up for a while, until a few days ago. Using the howadultareyou.com test and not searching up or asking for answers, developed by a psychologist, I scored an unbeaten(at my school) 97%. This gave substantial evidence, however this did not get me a phone. What it did give me was that my mom finally accepted that I was mature and responsible enough for a phone, which I will be given in 9th grade. My mom just wants to wait one more year of no-phone time just to reduce my exposion to phones. I'm happy now! If your child is responsible, shows good character, has good grades, and displays a consistent level of maturity, you can give him or her their first phone.

It should be 10 look it up your self.

I think that kids should have phones at about 6th grade that is when they start to do more things with friends and sports that you need to let them have the phone to call you if something is wrong. and about middle school I was staying home a lot with my sister so i needed it to call my parents anytime i need to. i would also only get them 1 phone and if they cant keep it safe in a month then they should not have one but it is up to you.

Here is a good criteria set: Ask yourself: “Is my child/teen involved in a lot of afterschool activities?”, or “Am I away from home a lot?” If this is so, you may want to get your child a phone for safety. Another thing you should ask yourself is: “Has my child/teen displaying maturity, are their grades good, can they complete tasks?” If they exhibit the traits you have been pondering, a phone could be an option. Another thing to consider is “How can a phone affect their overall life (for the better or worse)?” By using this criteria, you can properly consider if they deserve a phone. You don’t have to get them the latest model (I got a my first phone a few weeks ago and it was an iPhone 6S), as long as it can use the latest (or previous) version of whatever it runs. However, if you give them a phone your previously owned, and it is an iPhone, consider getting a battery replacement first to make it run good (it’s only $29).

The age a child should get a phone depends on the child. If your child displays lots of maturity and you believe they will do the same with a phone, you can get them one. If not, then wait. With me, I was the type of kid that had frequent meltdowns when I was younger, and I displayed maturity at times but it was inconsistent. Eventually, I realised I needed to grow up, and I picked up my game. After that, my dad told me he thought I was mature enough to have a phone. You, as a parent, should do the same. Wait until they are consistently displaying maturity and until they have proven they will do the same with phones. I got a phone at age 12, but some people got one earlier and some are older than that and still don’t have one.

Hi, I'm rosa. I'm am 15 years old, I don't have a phone, my parents rule is we are not aloud to have a phone until we drive alone!!! Yes! I now it's not fun haveing a phone but I just haft to trust my parents now what they are doing, yes I've always wanted phone most teens make fun of me becouse I don't have a phone, all the kids that do have a phone be great flu for what u have and don't want newer becouse there are kids out there who don't even have a phone! Anyway that's it.

When I was around 10 that's when I first got my official phone (which was a Blu studio energy 2) it was a little expensive but not to expensive (like around $150). But after a year of my phone being in perefect condition my parents decided to get me a iPhone 6 plus (which was around $500 at the time) and I took good care of that to. Then around a year and a half later I got the iPhone 7 plus (which was around $860 at the time) and then now a few months ago I got the $1,000 Galaxy note 8 (I'm 13 at this time). So my point is to start little and see how responsible they are before deciding to blow $600 on a phone, because if you give a child the latest iPhone as there first phone they won't know how it's like to own a basic phone so therefore they will not appreciate the value, they might appreciate it physically but not mentally.

I got my phone when I was in fifth grade and my dad got it for me so I could keep in touch and I’ve had it for a year now and it’s is still in tack so about sixth grade is the right time to get a kid a cell phone

My child (Sarah) got one when she was 9. This may differ depending on the child. I feel as if Sarah was ready for a phone. She showed responsibility and so forth. I know other parents get phones later though and that is fine! Maybe even better!

My parents say I don't need one, but how am I supposed to contact you when I hang out with friends. No, i'm not going to borrow someone else's, that's the point of owning a phone in seventh grade. I offered to pay but they're just being lazy. My father is an i.t manager, I should have had a phone since I was 2 *jokes* thanks for reading this rant bye

should kids have a phone?the more crime and violence that is happening these days it might be smart you can also set controls on it to stop it from doing types of things

I am 17 and a half years old oh, I do have a phone. I got a phone when I was 16 I had wanted one since I was like 13 then I finally got one. I got one because my older brother had a cell phone but then he left to go to college so there was no one else with a phone in the family besides my parents so if they were gone one of them would have to leave their phone, a chore right? life's not fair certainly mine is not, my brother got a phone when he was like 12 it was a flip phone but this was years ago flip phones used to be more popular oh, he would bust it cuz he was a young irresponsible kid and then they would get him another one. Kids do need to use phones responsibly, in my own home there's rules about my cell phone usage even though I am 17! I have to turn in my cell phone every night before I go to bed, no my parents don't want me using it in church either. It is annoying though from time to time my dad has gotten on my phone looking at my email my text, it's like really!? They even know my phone password oh, it's the principle of the matter just because people want privacy does not mean that they have anything to hide, they just want privacy! I can attest to this, privacy for me is limited in my home. I see a lot of kids on here in the comment section not many parents, most of the kids are 13 or 11. Since when did kids so young need cell phones? Kids don't need phones till there at least a teenager, but the world's a crazy place. However I do get kids 10 to 12 feel left out and jealous because their friends have phones and they don't the truth is nobody that age does need one. Somebody here in the comments section said just lie to people and tell them that you're not allowed to bring your cell phone to school, kids do not lie lying is not a good thing it can get you in trouble and make you feel guilty and it is against one of the Ten Commandments, so just don't. If you are a young person and really want a phone make an offer to your parents to pay for a portion of the cell phone and even a portion of the cell phone bill every month, politely and respectfully calmly and quietly explain to them your situation, you are whatever age you are everyone else has one you feel left out oh, you don't fit in oh, you can't talk to anybody. Believe me been there done that all the craziness, you know when you're out somewhere and you need to contact your parents and you don't have a phone and see have to borrow one and it's embarrassing, nobody wants to feel like they owe somebody else like they are a burden! Flip a coin this is a hard one, getting your children a cell phone depends on their attitude their responsibility their maturity their reasons, your reasons. Set rules in place make a contract, like I said possibly even make them pay for a portion of it, however I do not recommend that you tell children that they have to pay for it if they have no way of getting any personal income, if you don't give your kids a suitable allowance like at least $10 a week or they don't have a job or any way of making money don't tell them you can have a phone if you pay for it because they will never be able to pay for it. As someone that still does not have a job at the age of 17 and yes I suffer for it, Christmas and birthdays can be a hardship when you have to get people presents and have no money hardly. I get a small allowance a week but it's is not enough. I could go on forever about parenting but this is a cell phone conversation. Good luck everybody on getting a phone if you don't have one, peace out

Hello! I am in middle school, and not allowed to get a cell phone. I would have to pay for it, but have no way of collecting money. I highly doubt that my parents would let me get one, no matter how much money I saved. I would also have to pay for monthly phone bills. Most of my friends have a cell phone. 5 have an I-Pod, and do not have a cell phone. I have no cell phone, no I-pod, and no social media. This makes me feel left out. Only 1 out of my (About) 50 friends do not have Snapchat. Some people do not respect me because of this. It also makes it harder to communicate with friends that do not go to my school. I am very responsible, have always has straight A's, and have had perfect attendance scene 5th grade. I would feel accepted with a phone. I do currently play a sport, and have had to borrow someones phone multiple times. This can be very embarrassing. Overall, I believe that if you are a parent struggling with the decision of getting your kid a cell phone, also consider how owning a cell phone will affect their behavior now, and later in life. I love my parent deeply, and am thankful for everything they have given me. Owning a cell phone would help with my homework, my social life, and my safety. Once again, If you a parent facing this big decision, test them. Give them the chance to use an used tablet. If they are responsible with it, consider getting them a cheap phone. Everyone makes mistakes, so give them a little room to make them. One final thing is to make them do extra. If they have a cell phone, it should be a privilege. Give them extra chores, or make them pay for 5-10% of the phone, and/or phone bill each month. Over all, a cell phone is a good idea for your 11-12 year old. It can help, if used in the correct ways.

I believe that kids in middle school should be able to chose. Iknow, I know how hard it is to not have a phone. I am 13, and all I have is an old, crappy Samsung galaxy 4. I'm also in 8th grade, and it's hard to go around and get picked on because your old, shattered hand me down phone( which I only got at the beginning of the year because my flip phone stopped working) doesn't even have a case. At this point, I'm even ok with setting with an I phone 6, but my mom won't even let me do that. I don't have Snapchat, only instagram. And trust me, all kids out there in my situation, I feel you. When you are in middle school, most kids are mature enough to handle a phone, and I have noticed that people who don't have phones, or have bad ones are more likely to get picked on that people who do. This is even harder when you are extremely middle class, and go to a private school where you see kids getting two phones a year "just because" and see how oblivious they are to what is happening around them with people like me. Oh, and all of you parents out there who use the excuse that it "causes depression", it really doesn't. I have two friends who have been professionally diagnosed as clinically depressed, and not one reason had to do with social media or phones. I just really wish that parents would be more understanding about this, and understand that we live in a new generation, and have to deal with things completely different from what they did.

Kids age 12 and up should have a cellphone. I myself leave the house quite often and occasionally take public transit. I have a 6 year old samsung galaxy tab 2 and it is bad. We have computers and tablets, these can send video chats, voice calls, messages, access internet, any website desired, download any apps, & even tell us the news. So why cant we have phones, phones do all of these just in a more compact version. I personally spend maybe 11 hours in the week on my tablet and maybe 15 on screens in total. I have also have an xbox, I dont understand parents are willing to give you tablets, computers, and consoles all bigger "phones". So you are willing to give us all of these things but now all of a sudden because of size and a name we can't have a phone wow very logical. I have seen kids in KINDERGARTEN with phones. This just proves that whenever you prove them wrong that they messed up, they ignore you and try to hide it. Figure it out im not stupid nor are the rest of the teens who dont have phones but you treat us like we dont realize. Phones arent made for evil, you see kids caught doing bad things and instantly think its social media or phones. Im in 7th grade and thats my view of phones.

I know what it's like to be left out from your friends, because it happened to me. I am 11years old/5th grade and I don't have a good phone. I have a Samsung Galaxy note 4, and it is a hand-me-down gift from my mom. It doesn't have any data lines and it never did. My mom doesn't even let me play games on it or use it for studies or projects. My friends all have at least an iPhone 6 plus or higher. I feel really left out from my friends. I have been begging and wishing for an iPhone 8 plusevery night and birthday wish, but my parents say I have to wait till the end of high school or get straight As for 1 and 1 half a year. I dont really care now and I just don't want one anymore. The only reason why I wanted one us to fit in with my friends. I think a parent should get a kid a phone at least at age 11-14.Please don't be sad or depressed about not having a cell phone. I strongly urge parents to get a kid a phone when they start junior high.

Meaning even if your friends even do have a phone with social media AND EVERYTHING...doesn't mean your parents aren't punishing you, they care for you and they don't want to see you get hurt or you see something inappropriate. Yeah yeah, I know you'r thinking, "Wowwwwww....THAT is NOT true." Yes it is...your parents love you! Again...THEY'RE not punishing you-just wait, deal with embarassment! (just kidding), or confrence with them about it! --Best of luck!

Hi! I'm 12 turning 13- I have a flipphone...*sigh* my parents haven't really told me why but I think it's because of social media news. I'm on social media but they probably think that they wouldn't be able to see what I'm doing or if I post anything inappropriate; or if I'm on it for too long, they consider me, "a noodle" if I zone into a screen for too long! I have to use their phones so they can see what I'm doing. They hardly ever let me use their phones...I'd be VERY surprised if they EVER got a phone for me on my birthday OR christmas!! My opinion, from the comments...I agree that it's mostly maturity! NOT age. Age doesn't matter or even if ALL your friends have a phone!

Ok, I have read basically every comment on this list to get an idea of what people are talking about. So as a 12 year old 6th grader, being mainly the majority of commenters on this thread, I'd like to give my opinion on the matter. But, before here's my history with any mobile device. I got my first tablet at age 8, it wasn't mich a cheap 50-ish dollar Digiland tablet, but I still loved it mostly finally having literally any touch device at all was a huge step up. Moving on adter a while due to boredom I soon moved to using the computer more often, because I was 10 and wanting something more. Then at age 11 August time, my mom had recently damaged her phone, her phone being a badly cracked cheap Alcatel Pop Star Lte 2. Me being fed up of tablets already took the phone despite the condition of it and fir the first 3 weeks it had data and calling, because after she droped she just abandoned it, I used anyway. This didn't last long, after my sister had found her lost iPod Touch, that had been missing for a year almost in a janitors closet in her high school... She started using it again.In March when she got a job she got an iPhone 5s, and I got her product red iPod ( meaning a portion of the money we paid for it was donated to cure AIDS in Africa). This is currently my main device I use, for all of my social media to interact with family and friends and to entertain myself. Now that it's out of the way, my personal future plans is a pre-paid iPhone 6 that's around $200 from Straight Talk. My reason why is so I have a phone of own to use to keep up with my school activities, friends on social media, calling people, since my parents seem to forget I can't call my sisters to see what their doing, and if I'm being honest it's the norm now to have a phone and even young teens and pre-teens need them now if there ready for it, most people at middle schools will have phones and they WILL BE ON THEM ALL THE TIME. In short if your ready for a phone and have valid reasons to have one go for it and ask your parents and prove it to them by getting chores done and setting points. Parents, sometimes if you're away a ton from the house working or their busy, it's important to keeps their needs in mind and think about getting them phone sit down and talk to them about requirements to get one. it's not just a texting machine, it can actually make it easier and safer if they had a phone.

I think that you should get your child a phone at the beginning of middle school, because thats when they will most likely start getting into after school activities and will want to go off with friends.

Personally I think you should get your kid a phone before they enter middle school,as thats usually when they will start hanging out with their friends more often and going out with them (possibly without supervison). I got my first phone around 4 or 5 (it was a flip phone with my mum and dads number) and got my first smartphone at 8,im not the best example as my mum let me walk around my neighborhood since i was around 7 (she knew basicly everyone and their was a police station across the street so safty wasent a issue). so around 10/11/12 seems about right.

I’m 13, almost 14, and in 8 grade and still don’t have a phone. I’m almost going to be ready to have a drivers license and i only have an ipod. Almost everyone that goes to my Jr. High has a phone. There’s only 4 kids including me who don’t. When i ask to borrow someones phone after a volleyball, basketball, or track meet i feel super embarrassed because everyone just takes out their phones and i just sit there. A lot of people tease me about it and so do my parents. I’m really fed up with it and don’t know what to do. My birthdays in December and so is Christmas and if i don’t have one by the time i start high school i have no idea what i’m going to do.

I'm very surprised that nobody is looking at the health implications of getting young kids a cellphone. There are some interesting and pertinent points raised about cultural, social and other implications, but the impact to kids' health and long term affects need to be addressed, as it's potentially more important and impact-full than any of the other issues. Every legitimate study ever completed on cellphones and their effects has indicated that cellphones are dangerous for developing children, especially when they are younger and their skulls are not thick enough to shield radiation. A cellphone emits EMFs, which is another term for microwave radiation. Every time you hold one to your head, you are in danger of slowly microwaving your brain. The biggest study done on this recently in the US has determined that heavy cellphone use is detrimental to brains, especially those in developing children, and heavy cellphone use is defined as 3 hours per month!!! There are numerous studies available from other countries saying the same thing. I personally have been a heavy cellphone user for about 15 years, and earlier this year developed a massive subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain). As a result I nearly died and was rushed to hospital for emergency brain surgery. It was due to weakened blood vessels around my brain in the exact location of my cellphone ear, and heavy cellphone useage was determined to be the culprit by my team of Neurosurgeons. I have told my kids they will not be getting cellphones until their brains are developed and skulls are thick enough to shield most of the harmful radiation - ie: at 16 at the earliest! They are absolutely fine with it after seeing what I went through.

It all depends on if your kids do after school activities or not. It’s always a great idea for a good to have a phone when starting jr. High. It doesn’t need to be an expensive iPhone or Samsung. Start them off with something small and work your way up

I personally really want a Google Pixel 2. I am quite scared and nervous to ask my parents though, as their preferred age to get a phone is 13. My birthday is at the very end of the year, though... So that's why it seems weird if they get me a phone when I'm 11, when I'm actually going to turn 12 soon. I don't think they would ever surprise me with a phone on my birthday, unless I was 13 or 14. I asked my mom these questions (without her knowing this was about smartphones) and she said yes, I'm responsible, no, I don't lose things. I didn't ask her the rest otherwise she would know about the whole phone situation. I've talked about the GP 2 only once so far to my sister... and I'm kinda losing it. I have an iPod right now, and it works very well, but I have noticed everyone else has a phone except for me. I am in a school that's around 10 minutes away from my house, so if I ever walked and there was an emergency (which will hopefully NEVER happen) I could call or text them quickly with just a tap of my finger.

The right time for parents to get their kid a phone more depends on the maturity rather than the age. I got an iPod on my 9th birthday, and an iPhone 4s as my frist phone. I then got my iPhone 7 from my Grandad last Christmas. He also got me a 1gb and unlimited calls and text plan.

I am 12 years old and in the 7th grade, but my parents won't give me a cellphone!! I have the money to buy one, but they say that I am too young!! Everyone else in my grade has a cellphone, except me!!!! I deserve a cell phone! I have never done anything bad in my life!! THey just don't trust my brother, so they think that I can't be trusted too!

I think that kids should get basic phones when they have valid reasons to have a phone (example, after school commitments), but when they are in high school, a smartphone, like the iPhone 6, is acceptable. This is my opinion because the world is changing, and this is a good idea, because you get children with iPhone 7's and their parents have iPhone 6's (experience).

i am a 16 year old and i dont have a phone but i think there shouldnt be an age on when a kid should get a phone the only factor in my house is if i can pay for at least half of the bill and when i am able to do that i can get a phone and i already can pay for half the bill and i am starting to get to the point where i need one just hear me out i ref hockey and i have had a few of my ref partners not show up for the game and i didnt have a phone to allow me to call my assigner to get another ref to help me out so i had to ref a peewee tear 1 so pretty high level by MYSELF!!!! and the parents and coaches were getting mad at me for not making a call they saw but i didnt because im only one person and i cant see everything

My mum said that when i go to secondary school next year, that i can have a cheap smartphone (under £70) and that i cant have a sim deal over 10 pounds unless i want to pay for it my self. I think that if (unless you know that they wont look after it) that any child should get a cheap smartphone for their 11th birthday/just before high school/secondary school. If they want an upgrade they can pay for it them self.

Honestly I only got a phone bc I had all A's and B's but tbh you don't really need a phone unless your parents are divorced and you need a way to communicate with them, or if you are in certain grade levels that your parents get worried etc.

I have 3 kids and believe that it is a must for your child and you for them to have a smartphone. These days phones are used for everything from being social to education and saftey.Kids get bullied for not having a phone and feel left out. Their are so many benefits of having a phone and I think it is stupid that some parents don't understand that their kids should get a phone. It is not as safe today as it was when us parents were growing up. Your child will need a phone when they get their first job, and do extra after school activities. By the age of 13 most kids are responsible enough and can benefit from a smart phone, it's better safe then sorry.

First phone idea - We got our son a "gizmo" at about age 8 (through Verizon) It's worn like a watch and limits calls to four phone numbers that you choose. We love the GPS feature that tells us exactly where he or the phone/watch is. When ever we go skiing, theme park etc, we make sure this is on his wrist. He's 10 now. I don't feel the need to upgrade to a smartphone yet, knowing he has the "gizmo" to reach us if he needs to.

I am 14 years old I have been asking my parents for a phone for about a year now. I know it seems silly to be so invested in just a phone but I feel left out around friends because I don't have one. I have been saving up for 8 months for a phone and still don't have enough money. It's hard to try and save up for something when you can't get a job. I'm going into high school this year and it seems like everyone has already had a phone forever. I feel I am mature enough to handle it and I keep trying to explain to my parents that times have change and a phone could really benefit me. I'm actually on this website to get thoughts and facts on why I should get a phone so I can write an essay explaining to my parents the reasons I want a phone. I think the fact I willing to pay and write an essay even though there is no reason I have to sort of show I am mature enough to handle my own phone.

I got a phone when I was 12, in seventh grade. I actually got my first phone when I was 8 or 9, but it was just an old flip-phone. I got a smartphone at 12 because I was heavily involved in extra-curricular activities, such as orchestra practice, martial arts and I had a job working at a grocery store. I think 12-13 is a good age to receive a smartphone. Children under that age are just too immature. I remember when I was 10, I wanted a phone so badly. I asked my parents for one almost 24/7, but they refused. At the time, I was angry. But now I can clearly see why kids under 12-13 have no business owning expensive smartphones. If they need communication so badly, get them a $5 flip phone.

I am 14 but my parents don't want me to us a cell phone. They think l will use my phone to watch bad stuffs, and l want use it for studies. this is really bothering me because,i use my phone to play games, and i don't use it for bad stuffs

Hi as a 13 year old who does not have a phone i have asked my parents for a phone since i was 11 they said no but i think it was okay then but now when i am going 8 th grade i don't think its fair not having a phone but when i go shopping i see 8 yr olds with iphones while i dont have a phone it hurts a lot but i think 13 is the age to start.

I'm 20 soon to be 21 end of next month and I got my first cellphone on my 18th birthday. I think kids should not get a cellphone until they are 18 cause of all the sexting I hear teens do and creating child pornography. I'm sure not all teens do that but alot do. At least only get 17- kids a flip phone with only texting/calling and no data so they can't send inappropriate content. At least they can stay in touch with their parents.

I got an iPhone 7 a few days ago. I am so happy to finally get one because everyone around me has one. I was the only person in 4th grade who didn't have a phone, so I think a person 10 or older can get a phone and use it responsibly.

I'm going into 8th grade and I don't have a phone. I'm not allowed to have any social media or communicate with my friends without parent supervision. I get really annoyed by not having a phone and I am very involved and our school is completely ran by phones and it's RIDICULOUS! Kids want to able to be on them at lunch, teachers post homework on instagram, and teachers allow kids to have their phones out for classwork giving them full access to the internet. My little cousins have phones and my 8 year old sister has friends with phones. It can be very embarrassing when somebody says, hey what's your instagram, Snapchat, or phone number and you have to come up with some excuse like oops I forgot it. I beg my parents for a phone and I tell them that basically everyone has a phone and they say that some don't. I get good grades and am responsible I have received citizenship awards and participate and volunteer at our school but my parents still won't budge. It now is a learning tool and I think that it is important to have a phone. think that 13 is a good age to get a smartphone if they are responsible and mature.

If you have a child under 18, you should have a reason why you're giving them a phone. Make sure they are responsible if they break or lose their phone. And I also reccomend an app or a phone that can protect your child from predators, bad apps, and bad websites. Always check their phone too once in awhile.

I say ages 11-12. Really middle school, because many kids walk/bike to school on a daily basis. Some children may need to wait another year, but most can handle following the school rules on cell phones. Most middle schoolers have them now, some teachers even allow kids to use them for certain educational projects because they know most kids have a smartphone. It's never fun to feel left out. That's why I think the start of middle school a good age to consider a smartphone for your child.

The only reason I want a phone is so I can have wifi all the time. But I see like 5 year olds with phones and I think. What the heck! Lots of people say 11 is the age where kids become mature enough for a phone and social. But being so small and having a phone is just wrong.

I think it is extremely annoying how there are kids younger than me that have phones. I only have an iPod touch and almost all of my friends have phones. I am writing a paper on this in English and I think that there should be an age restriction to own a smart phone. Having phones at a low age can be dangerous to them. They can look up inappropriate things that can be harmful to them. Also child abusers could ask them for pictures of themselves.

I'm 11 and I've got a phone. It isn't the iPhone 7 or anything, but it's a Nokia which is fairly tech savvy. I got it today and I'm more than happy with it. I can call, text and use Bluetooth. I recently shifted house, and I live in a gated community. So if my parents are at home and I'm on the other side of the community, in the playground or a at a friends place, I can use it to tell them I'm coming home or they can do vice versa. I think a kid should gat a phone at ages 9-12, maybe a bit later, but it depends on maturity and responsibility. If you think your kid is ready, then go for it. But don't give them a flagship smartphone. It can be quite dangerous. It's just my opinion. Thanks for taking your precious time to read this. Bye.

I think the best age for a person to have a smartphone is not an age but when the parent’s child is mature enough to understand the dangers of a smartphone and will have self-control over it. Understanding the dangers of a smartphone is very important. The child could do anything on their phone whenever they want without a parent around, like communicating with whomever they want and looking up whatever they want. Teenagers should also be responsible enough to have self-control over their smartphone, because if they let themselves become addicted, then they may not be able to pull themselves from social media or video games. Also, parents should make sure that their child actually needs a smartphone for useful purposes and not just for entertainment or because everyone else has one. It is vitally important for children and teenagers to understand the difference between being dependent on a phone and using it as a tool for extra help, and using it as a main source of connection with people and experiencing true connection through real conversation. If parents were to focus on this going forward, then instead of their children becoming more and more dependent on devices for connection with others, they might develop the ability to truly understand and learn from other human beings.

I believe that at the age of 12 and up you should be able to trust your children to not do anything dumb on their phone and of you are not sure just go through their phone every once in a while I do that to my children and I have no problem with her the point is just your kids

I know a 7year old who got a iPhone 7 which is crazy!! If I had a kid I would get them a flip phone when they get into high school.

I believe that the right age for a kid to have a cell phone is at a range of age between 14 and 17 because at that age kids are more responsible and mature. But getting them a phone doesn't mean that they have earned it. First they have to show you that they can handle a cell phone and won't get distracted when doing homework or other important things. If they do so then since you’re the parent you have the right to take it away until you see that they can handle it now responsibly and won't get to distracted easily. But on the other hands I still believe that kids that are still not that age need a phone to stay in touch with parents if they are going over to a friend’s house and or walk home or use public transportation from school home. I say that parents will think twice before giving their child a phone and also think on the reasons why it not good to give a child under age a phone. So I predict that parents will give their child a phone at age 14-17 when they’re responsible and mature enough or when they can prove they deserve it.

Most parents have trouble deciding when they should buy their children cell phones. In my opinion, parents should buy their kids cell phones. The tricky question is how to know when a child is ready to own a smartphone. Once you give your kid their first phone, you might start wondering what they are doing with it and who they might be talking to. It’s not that you don’t trust them, its that you don’t trust other people on social media. They are exposed to online bullies and child predators. However, children from different ages show different amounts of maturity. The age of a kid does not show the level of maturity or responsibility. Giving your child a cell phone shows that you’re ready to trust them when you’re not with them. It is understandable “why people buy their kids smartphones”. One reason to buy a cell phone is for safety purposes, especially when they have to take public transportation from home to school. When you’re not around your children, you worry if they’re not fine. A cell phone allows you to contact whoever you want whenever you want. Network problems actually do limit when and where parents can contact their kids, so providing your kid with a phone may provide parents with a false sense of security. It doesn’t matter where you are, with just a click of a button you’ll be able to contact anyone. In the New York Times “article” “ What’s the Right Age for a Child to Get a Smartphone?” Brian X. Chen gives a couple of reasons why cell phones can be used for other things. “ Smartphones undoubtedly bring benefits. With the devices, children gain access to powerful apps, including education tools for studying, chat apps for connecting with friends and the wealth of information on the web.”As a student, using my phone as a tool can be very beneficial. When I used to have troubles in math class, I would search up ways to solve the math equations. By watching videos, I eventually learned how to solve different equations. However, smartphones can also be a great distraction. Smartphones are not only used as a study tool. If you pay attention to the negative side of cell phones, you’ll realize that kids can become highly addicted to them. A few things that your kid can be exposed to is games, sexting apps, child predators, and cyberbullies. Most parents decide to buy their children their first smartphone in hopes that they are mature enough to avoid the dark side of these devices. Internet safety speaker Jesse Weinberger said, “The longer you keep Pandora’s box shut, the better off you are.” As I continued to read the same article, I found a study that was published last year. Common Sense Media was curious enough to poll parents and children to see how many admitted having an addiction to their cell phones. “5o percent of the children admitted that they were addicted to their smart phones. It also found that 66 percent of the parents their children used mobile devices too much, and 52 percent of the children agreed. About 36 percent of parents said they argued with their children daily about device use.” The main question here is “ How can you determine the right time?”The answer varies because it all depends on how mature the kid is. Age does not show levels of responsibility, independence and maturity. The Chief executive of Common Sense Media, James P. Steyer, said, “No two kids are the same, and there’s no magic number.” “ A kid’s age is not as important as his or her own responsibility or maturity level.” One example that shows how age does not show how mature you are is an incident that occurred at a Colorado high school. 100 student at a colorado high school were trading nudes of themselves on their mobile devices. A way to prevent kids from making mistakes while owning a smartphone is creating a contract. Ms. Weinberger came up with a family contract listing rules of smartphone use. The contract also contains consequences when breaking the rules. It “ includes promises never to take nude selfies and never to try to meet strangers from the internet in real life.” Parents state what the consequences are for breaking the rules, and the child must sign the contract before receiving a smartphone.” Overall, deciding whether to get children a phone depends on whether the kid can be trusted to send pictures or texts responsibly. If trust isn’t present between the parent and the child then buying a smartphone is probably not the best choice to make.

Well,I recommend kids between the age 11-13 to get one or it depends how "responsible" your child is.There are 2 options for to get for them 1. A flip phone or if they are teased about it.then use plan b 2.Have them do a challenge to see if they go 30 days without doing (insert child's major flaw here) and you can get them either a iPhone 4/5 or an android phone because my parents did this to get my phone.Parents,you can set restrictions/parental controls on their phone to see if they aren't abusing it or if you kid doesn't want you "Spying" on them,trust them to see if they use their phone appropriately.

As a 13-year-old, most of my friends have cell phones (some of which are iPhone 5-7). Of course, I would like to have a cell phone but I have an agreement with my mother. This says that I am allowed to get a cell phone when I am 14. Here are the reasons why we agree with this: 1. Phones can be dangerous. You can easily be contacted by people with bad intentions on purpose or by accident. 2. It's not good for kids to constantly be connected. 3. Kids will want to constantly play on their phones instead of play outside or do something productive. 4. There are always ways for kids to get in contact with their parents. Stores have phones and most adults would be happy to lend their phone to a child who needs to call their parents.

Many people will be shocked by my answer to this question. I am 15 going to be 16 this summer. I am obliviously in high school currently working on my GCSE's.It is hard to communicate with other people, but at least I have a laptop. I have never ever had a smartphone in my life and it is really hard to live without a smartphone in high school/in this modern world as you are surrounded by it each and every day. Yes, I have had brick phones for the past 3-4 years(Since year 7-11). My friends will always be laughing at me and when it is break time, after having a laugh they will all get their iPhone's out and browse on it for a good 30 minutes. I would be sitting there looking at them and then I will just walk out of the room because I feel left out. They would always be talking about new apps coming out, social media that I can't upload on my laptop. When we are going out for meals or something they will go on snap chat and snap everything. Many people out there will not understand as I come from a different background ( and I wouldn't like to mention it) It is very frustrating especially when you have strict parents. My sister got her first smartphone at age of 18 and she was going to UNIVERSITY. I KNOW RIGHT!! Fortunately, I am going to be getting an iPhone 6s when I start 6th form and I am going to be having this for a couple of years. My advice to the people out there that have a similar situation is that patience is the key, be very patient and time will fly by and you wouldn't realise it. I have 7 months to go!!

If your child is 6 years to 12 years, I suggest a Gizmo Gadget Watch. The new Ver. can hold up to 10 contacts, while the old one can only hold 4. I have one, and it's really useful!! While 13+ year old kids can have a Smart phone, or an IPhone. If you're a parent that's unsure if you should give your child a phone, I really suggest a Gizmo Gadget watch. Only the Parent/Guardian can control what contacts that their child has on their watch, and it has a tracking feature!! I highly suggest a Gizmo Gadget.

I just turned 12 and got a phone for Christmas. I got an iPhone 7 it's excellent. I would say kids below 11 should not have a nice iPhone like a 6 or a 7 or a new galaxy.kids from (8-10) would be good getting a smart tracfone like the ninja turtles one or just a flip fone like an lg chocolate that does have games,can text, and take pictures. I have had friends from years past that have had those phones and they are good for age. Even though I got an iPhone 7 any iPhone or galaxy or just any smartphone for a (12-16) if your son or daughters B-day is coming up soon I would suggest and iphone5c to a 6 because the newer iPhones are very Expensive. But other than that it's the parents decision.

Once they are about 9, get them a flip phone, or some other cheaper phone. When they turn about 12 or 13, consider a smartphone.

I am a 13 year old teen, almost 14, and i still don't have a phone. When I am allowed to get one, I will have to purchase it myself, along with paying the monthly cellular bill. I ride the bus home, and yet the only reason my parents wont let me buy one is because i don't need it. My advise would to either let your kid get a phone or buy it for them around 11+, unless there is an issue in which they need a phone beforehand. Otherwise, I see no need for a phone for kids 10 and younger. Also take into consideration how responsible your kid is. If there always getting in trouble, then maybe they don't need a phone quite yet. Hope this helps.

You should give kids a phone when they show that they are responsible enough for owning one, but dont wait until they are 15, probably they will be ready at 10+. Technology isnt avoidable, it is better to teach them to use them correctly than forbiding it. Dont give them an outdated phone! It should at least have Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or iPhone 5s , cause, believe me, if you give anything lower than that they will hate phones forever (bc of lags battery, no more updates, etc..) .Windows Phone isnt an option, lacking apps makes it suck.

It is really up to the parent to decide when their child should get a mobile phone. My first phone was something called a 'Gecko phone'. I was seven at the time and all I could do with it was call my mum and mums friends in an emergency or the emergency number. My mum was the only one who knew how to programme numbers into the phone and delete numbers from it. It only had the call, the hangup, the up and the down buttons on it. I had that phone for three years and on my tenth birthday, my mum got me a Motorolla flip phone. At the age of twelve, I was given a smartphone. I am eighteen now and now have an iPhone 7 Plus. Anyways... phones can be really costly and parents have other things to do with their money such as: buy food, pay the bills, keep a roof over their family's head etcetera, etcetera. But as I said; it is up to the parent to decide when it is the right time for their child to have a phone.

I didn't get my first iPhone until just a few days ago ( Christmas). Before I got my iPhone my parents started me off with a LG Cosmos 3, a simple starter phone that only texts and calls. I had gotten the LG phone in 7th grade and kept it for two years and wasn't really addicted to getting a iphone until my aunt kept bugging me about it (which was in the middle of the summer) I talked to my dad in August about it and asked him how many years you usually keep a phone for and he said 2 and I got very excited because I had kept my phone for 2 years already. When I asked him when I could get one he said Christmas..and I was like seriously? But it was worth waiting because now I am happy I have a new iPhone 6S.

I think that kids ages 13 and up should have phones. I have asked my parents numerous times for a phone, and although my dad does not have a problem with it, my mom refuses to give me a legitamate reason why she does not want me to have one. Every single person at my school has a phone, and I do not. I have a tablet, but this does not cut it. I do lots of sports, and numerous times nobody has picked me up from them, and I am afraid that one day I will be left alone after track with no way to call anybody. I do have a flip phone, but it is VERY embarrassing to use it in public.

I think kids should get a phone when they are 10 thru 12 because 1. I got my first I phone when I was 10 2. By the time you are in 4th or 5th grade it seems like everybody has a phone so you feel left out. Considering all of the above it is ultimately the parents choice because they will know how responsible the kid is and if they are willing to pay the money on the phone and data.

I think that giving a child a smartphone at a young age (like 10) is not a good move. I was given a cell phone at a young age and stumbled upon a lot of content not suitable for someone that young and impressionable. I say you should give your elementary school age child a flip phone with little functions. Texting and calling family should be the only functions, no games to distract them. Also check your child's phone often to see what they are up to (if they are mature enough to be texting friends). I think when a child grows to be in middle school it is okay to give them a smart phone if they are mature enough to handle the responsibility and are receiving good grades. Not having a smart phone in middle school is alienating and can make you seem uncool, so giving your child one can keep their social life from lacking. A child should definitely have a smart phone by high school because they will have no friends without the most recent phone. I am around this age and I can say that my peers who have phones are a lot more social and generally happier than those without. But, if the child has delinquent behaviors it is best to take away their phone and make them do specific chores or get better grades in order to earn their phone back.

You should get a kid a phone at age 9 or 10.It also depends on the grades and behavior.

When my son was 6, I struggled because I felt like he was too young and immature to handle the responsibility of a cell phone (not losing it, not playing games during school, not accidentally stumbling on inappropriate content) but he rides the bus to and from school and it made me extremely uncomfortable for him not to have a way to get ahold of me if he needed to. Especially because our district has had a few issues lately with dropping little kids off at the wrong place. I settled on getting him a gizmo through Verizon. Even though it's a cell phone, it's worn and looks like a smart watch - makes it much less likely to be accidentally left somewhere. There's also no internet access, no ability to download new apps, and the few "fun" apps built in aren't distracting games, and he can only make calls to and receive calls from phone numbers that I've pre-approved. Lots of carriers have similar watch phones for kids and I think there are several you can buy independently from a carrier. I think they make great options for kids who are too young for a cell phone, but still actually kind of need one.

I just turned 20 years old and do not have a cell phone. When I was younger I was given a track phone when I began driving, but if I wanted anything more I would have to pay for it myself. I started living on my own soon after first quarter in high school. I have been living alone ever since. It is hard to afford everything when you are paying for college, and all of the bills of living, when you are only being paid minimum wage! So currently my boyfriend and I share a phone that his parents pay for(it is cheaper to have him on their plan for them). I completely understand not having a cell phone and feeling socially inept when you do not have one, but kids do not understand how the world works! Having access to a crappy track phone is enough to contact parents, and friends, especially at a high school age. If you want anything more you should have to work for it just the same as everyone else in the adult world. If you want things that are provided by your parents you should have to pay them for it if it is more than the bare minimum. If you are already acting entitled to a phone at a young age, it will be hard for you in the real world.

I haven't reached this problem yet. My son is only 9 and homeschooled, but he's asked before. My personal opinion is unless they need one to communicate with their parents, cell phones are frivolous and a constant expense, not a one time cost like a Game Boy or stereo. It's a perfect way for them to learn some financial skills by paying for and managing their own payments for data, insurance minutes etc. If they aren't willing to work for it then why should they expect their parents to.

as soon as there going places alone so usually around 12

I think that the appropriate time for one to get a phone is in the 6th grade. I personally got my phone in 7th grade and it has allowed me to communicate with friends better and it has made life easier in school now that technology is highly integrated into the modern school system. The type of phone doesn't really matter, but I'd say to buy an older phone at first and then to get a newer phone after one's level of responsibility has been proven. I started out with an ipod that I had to keep in tact for 5 years in order to get my first phone. Getting a phone too late can seriously hinder a teens social life, something that can be very emotionally stressful. The ultimate choice remains with the parent, but do keep in mind the needs of your child while deciding!

If u want to know when to get your child a phone i've got an age try from 8-9 get them a little tracphone it does not have to be touchscreen or anything it could just be a phone that were you could communacate to your parents if there is an emergency then from 10-11 on their birthday or chirstmas get your child a pre-paid phone they have iphones if your kid wants an iphone it goes far as an iphone 5c or if they want a samsung get them a samsung that's how i would do it

This is 2016, a new technological age where pretty much everyone you know has a phone, whether it be a flipphone to a 800$ iPhone. I'm in 8th grade, so next year I'll be off to high school. I'd just be chill and all, sitting there watching my friends snapchating each other or texting and all and I'm just there, the only one without a phone. I've been URGING my mother, asking if I can get one. She's chill with the idea. It is 2016, and it is very dangerous out there. Sending me to high school without a phone is very unreasonable. My sister, however, does not want m with such power. I mean, I won't be addicted. I know I'm trained to resist the urge of using my phone too much. I have excellent grades in school, I do sports and I'm in clubs. What more responsibility and well-roundness would you want? I remember once in 6th grade barely made honor role and then receiving an iPhone 6 Plus... on the first semester. That stuff gets on my nerve when I work so much but others get the better. It's time to let you're child grow up, not stay as the baby anymore. You should get them a phone not to early nor late, but when you see that they can handle the privilege. Sure, I have an iPod 5 that's so slow it drives me crazy, but I'm very thankful for what I have until I get a phone. Parents, DO NOT just go buy your teen an iPod and say, "Hey, we just bought you a phone!" Carrying around an iPod is very embarrassing, like if I'm still being treated like a baby. I'm playing flappy bird on it or something and then one of my friends approach like, "Oh, you have a phone now!" It gets really nervous from there. Apple would trash those iPods in a year or two just because you can listen to music on a phone or a cheaper MP3 player. Reading all the thoughts here has inspired me to continue urging my family to see that it's time I need a phone now. After all, I turn 14 in a month, and 14 is way too late for a phone.

I for one believe an 11 year old is responsible enough to get there own phone. If they work hard in school, and study enough, then they earn the right. Coming from a girl who was the youngest in the her grade all the time, I was always jealous to see how hard I worked and still never got a phone compared to the girls who got 5 phones in there lifetime without even trying to do any work whatsoever. That feeling crushed me. A few weeks later, I was the only girl in my grade without a phone. Then came my 11th birthday, I got my hopes up too high, and guess what I got, another pair of clothing and a stuffed animal. That was the day I didn't feel like moving. that was the day I cracked. I was hysterically crieng hugging my knees over a rectangular object. my point is face it people, we really shouldn't care if a kid 10 and up gets a phone because at this point face it people, we live in the 21 century, technology is what we revolve around weather we like it or not. Unless you want what happend to me to happen to your child, I think if they are hard working enough, they deserve a phone of their own.

What age should a kid get a phone???

I am 13 years old and I have an iPhone 6s Plus, and I am going to upgrade to the iPhone 7 here in a few weeks. I got my first ever phone when I was 9, and it was because we were visiting New York and my mom wanted me to keep in touch. It was a Samsung Galaxy S3, and it was a really good smart phone. You could call text, access the Internet, download apps, play games, just about everything you need. I was a mature 9 year old, and my parents didn't monitor what I was doing on the phone, and they still don't , because THEY DON'T HAVE TO. If your children want phones, I saw let them have it. It's up to you if you want them to have a brand new phone, or an older phone. At the time, the phone I had when I was 9 was brand new, so that goes to show you my parents wanted me to have a good, working phone. But let me get back to the point. If your kids are over the age of 6 and they want a phone, just give it to them.

I got a phone last year, just before my 13th birthday. Honestley, I think that anyone under maybe 12 years old does not need a phone. Yes, it is important for someone around that age to get a phone, as it is important to be in touch with parents and friends. Even with this in consideration, most people get the latest or most expensive phone that has just been released. Personally, I got my mum's old iPhone 4, and I don't need anything more than that. I probabbly will get a new phone soon, but my parents and I have agreed that I have to be able to save up to pay for at least half of it.

Ok, so I'm 14. No phone. A freshman. It's actually really sad to me that I don't have one, mainly (being honest) because everyone else does. No really, EVERYONE. And I'm homeschooled, which makes this more of a phenomenon. Money isn't the problem. All my parents have to do is tell me I have to pay for everything and I will. I'll buy the plan, the phone, everything. I currently have an iPod Touch, which I had since I was eleven. You can text on it, which I think is the only thing keeping me from going insane. My friends from camp and I are going to meet up sometime later this month, and my only fear is that I'll be left out because I'm the only one without a phone. Which I will. I feel so left out all the time. I hate it. So the perfect age gap for a phone is 12-13. Perfect timing. Sending a kid into high school without one is honestly kind of cruel. 11 is too young, 14 is too old. Having the iPod touch that I do, it's enabled me to keep many friendships. Let's be honest here; you can convince all your friends to email you if you don't have a phone. It's kinda rude to those people, and they don't use their emails anymore anyway. It's inconvenient, and it's not gonna work. Please, PLEASE get your kid a phone in either 7th or 8th grade. Being left out is one of the worst feelings in the world - especially when you could do something about it, but the people you love most won't let you.