What age did you give your kid a cell phone? A FaceBook Survey

When we think of raw data, there's no place better to draw from than our friends on FaceBook.  People are always interested in what a friend posts and will most likely answer if the post is relevant to them.  

So I put it out there- What age did you give your kid a cell phone?

Here are some of the answers I got:

• My oldest was 15 and my youngest was 13.
• The one that is now 23 got her first phone when she was 16. (We made her wait until then.) The 8 year old is already asking for one and we have said no, and probably will not let him have one until he is about 12.  Maybe if we could get a phone that was only able to call certain numbers (mom, dad, home, emergency, etc.) he might get one sooner than 11.
• Didn't get my first cell phone until 16 -- had to be old enough to pay the bill
• My daughter is 12 and has one.  l I thought it was fair because if she's old enough to "become a woman" she is surely old enough for a phone.
• My son was 13 my daughter was 10. It was more to do with sports as we co-op with another school.
• Middle school...if the grades are good... in our case my daughter does after school activities...
• My daughter was 9 when she got one, so I could get a hold of her when she was with her dad. I think middle school is a good time though.

There you have it, seems like mostly middle school age kids are getting cell phones.  Mostly due to school activities and starting to actually do things without the parents.

At What Age Should Kids Get Cell Phones?

We all wonder what age is the right age to give your child a cell phone.  Below is a video from Good Morning America and a group discussion with parents and their children.

Good Morning Amercia: What age should kids have cell phones?

At What Age Should Kids Get Cell Phones?

We all wonder what age is the right age to give your child a cell phone.  Below is a video from Good Morning America and a group discussion with parents and their children.

Good Morning Amercia: What age should kids have cell phones?

Kid Cell Phones and Parenting Plans

It is important to analyze the role of cell phones in the parents’ lives before we assess the role of kid cell phones. Parents should consider how much they rely on cell phones for day to day tasks and communications. Our society has evolved, evolved so much that 75% of children, ages 11-13, have cell phones! While an important decision is when and what cell phone to give your child, the most important question is what is your parenting plan?

While your household isn’t a business, it’s good to think out guidelines, if-then scenarios, limits, and discipline. Like most of parenting, leading by example is how your child will ultimately learn to use their cell phone. Are you the parent still carrying around the original Nokia, call and text only cell phone, or are you the always on the BlackBerry solving an issue, participating in conference calls, and scheduling meetings? I am in no way saying either is bad, it is a point of introspection; what will my child learn from me? Your habits and phone manners will become theirs.

Now that we’ve established the role your cell phone plays in your day to life, we can explore a parenting plan, or philosophy, that adults in your household will set for your child.

Kid Cell Phone Parenting Plan Points:

• Are cell phones always allowed to be on in the house?
  • Considerations: dinner, homework time, bed time, and family time
• Will we teach phone etiquette?
  • When to answer the phone
  • Excusing yourself from the room or table
  • Texting while others are talking to you
• What should a kid cell phone be used for?
  • Calling certain people
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • All communications
• Who does the cell phone belong to?
  • Do you give it to your child only when there are situations that necessitate a cell phone?
  • Are they responsible for replacing it if lost, stolen, or broken?
  • Family phone – given to those who have a reason to use it?
• Will parents participate in same rules?
  • Explaining the difference of parental usage versus their privileges
• Privileges
  • Part of allowance – prepaid minutes
  • How to earn more privileges
  • What loses privileges
  • At which age does it become their financial obligation