https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:31:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1465376 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 06:01:45 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1465376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no idea what the norm is here or anywhere else for that matter! I think it'll depend a lot on her afterschool activities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1465365 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 05:10:24 +0000 808love 1465365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Elementary school but limited use. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464656 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:43:50 +0000 Cole 1464656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: We don't have a land line either. That is part of why I think we will do a family phone that gets kept in the kitchen 90% of the time. Then we can send it with a kid who is walking to the park or something but otherwise it is available for general phone calls. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464633 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:37:33 +0000 Kimberlybee 1464633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: We still have a landline for our house alarm since we got a good deal on it. When my niece lived with us, I let her friends call and text her via my cell phone. I like screening her calls like that. They also used their parents' phones I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464617 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:31:10 +0000 Pepper 1464617@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: I was wondering the same thing! We don't have a house phone, and when I was 12+ I always used to chat with my friends after school or on weekends on the house phone. Maybe by then there will be an obvious solution :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464615 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:30:22 +0000 Kimberlybee 1464615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ideally, high school but I know it's going to be an uphill battle because my DH is a tech geek and wants DD to have the latest gadgets. He already entertains her with the iPad and I hate it!!! I have to remind him to use it as a last resort. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464611 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:28:56 +0000 mrsjyw 1464611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When he can drive! That's when I got mine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464610 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:28:52 +0000 avivoca 1464610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not until high school. Honestly, I wish we could move somewhere where they don't have cell service and avoid it all together, but since that isn't likely, not until high school. It won't be a fancy bells phone either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464609 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:28:44 +0000 Pepper 1464609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When they can drive. That's when I got mine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464597 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:23:01 +0000 Running Elley 1464597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our kids will not be getting them until they can drive. They won't be smart phones either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464498 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:46:39 +0000 Grace 1464498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: My neice got an ipad at 4 too. Her parents figured she needed it because she had to learn how to use it for school!</p> <p>I think that a phone may be necessary for when my LO is going out on her own. There are so few payphones around anymore and I want her to be able to get ahold of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464413 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:10:49 +0000 pinkcupcake 1464413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure phones (if they haven't been replaced by something else) of the future will be totally different, but in today's terms - I would get a very simple, no-nonsense one in late elementary school so they can call us if needed or if there's an emergency. Smart phone would be later, when they were older, like late middle or early high school. </p> <p>Phone use will be very, very supervised though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464298 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 15:42:14 +0000 MrsH 1464298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: great contract! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464169 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:59:43 +0000 Torchwood 1464169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is very anti kids having cell phones at all, which I think is unrealistic. As some have pointed out, it's just not the same world we grew up in! That being said, they will NOT be getting smart phones at 7 or 8. I have some young cousins who got iphones and ipads and all that around that age, and the older one is just addicted. To the point that I don't remember the last time I saw him not staring at his phone (unless he'd been forced to put it away). That won't be acceptable. And there will be some definite rules associated with it, etc. We'll be doing something along the lines of this contract. </p> [attach=3674/14/n1vm7k.450x600.0ceedec302c3dcee9e7a35df30a1ddd7.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464165 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:57:26 +0000 MrsStar 1464165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm thinking 14ish (it's when I got my first one!) and it's going to be a pre-paid one so the bills should never be surprising, and lo will need to put her own money towards the monthly cost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464161 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:55:33 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1464161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A smartphone when they can pay for it. I didn't have a phone (flip!) until I was 15 and paid for it, and didn't have a smartphone until just last year! </p> <p>But I would like to be able to get ahold of them when they start doing a lot of school/friend activities in high school. I would likely pay for a pay as you go or basic phone with just calling maybe limited texting ability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone/page/2#post-1464144 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:47:45 +0000 ALV91711 1464144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I like the idea of one phone for the family. </p> <p>I want to say never! Ideally high school but I'm sure it will be more like middle school. I'm not going to get anything fancy, the fanciest would be if one of us upgraded he could have our smart phone once he is able to pay for data. Until then flip phone it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1464119 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:37:52 +0000 LuLu Mom 1464119@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is so hard, I got one at 14 becuase I started to drive. I would love to say this is when LO will get one, but kids get them so much earlier these days. I think it will 100% depend on whether we have a house phone or not, I do not want to have my cell phone being called by LOs friends! We might have to have a joint cell phone for our kids? I have plenty of time to think about this :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1464099 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:33:29 +0000 Freckles 1464099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll probably give it to them earlier when they're in grade school or have after school/weekend activities, but can only be used in emergencies and will be quite restricted. They can have a cell phone in high school but there's no way i'm buying them a smart phone unless they can pay for the additional fees associated with a data plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1464098 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:33:24 +0000 MrsH 1464098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably earlier than later - especially because iPhones let you track where they are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1464080 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:27:52 +0000 jedeve 1464080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably when I start leaving them places other than school. Like piano lessons or sports or whenever. But it will be one of those locked down pre-programmed ones! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1464076 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:26:38 +0000 Mae 1464076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure! I have this hope that we are sort of in a technological deadzone for parental oversight and things will get better. Like the whole sexting thing scares the crap out of me. But it seems like it's really just the last 5ish years where there has been all these new capabilities widely available to kids. I'm hoping in another decade there will be more mainstream ways to lock those sorts of things down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1464058 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:22:17 +0000 JerricaBenton 1464058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't imagine what will be the newest technology in 10 years but I'd probably let lo have a cell phone or whatever it's equivalent in middle school. It's a question of safety and being able to contact me whenever she needs to. I was one of the first of my friends to have a cell and everyone wanted to borrow it to call for rides etc . It's such a normal part of every day life now, I feel like you can't compare it to our childhood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463760 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:23:38 +0000 MrsKoala 1463760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When they can drive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463755 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:22:31 +0000 looch 1463755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pretty soon, cell phones, even smartphones won't be the in thing, so I am not worried about when my son will get one. </p> <p>What's more worrying is wearable technology, like google glasses or even smartphone watches. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463745 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:20:34 +0000 travelingnanny 1463745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm always shocked when I go to the aquarium and see elementary kids with smart phones. </p> <p>I think my future kids will probably get one in middle school. I'd like to say high school because that is when I got mine, but I bet it will be sooner. Its not like there are pay phones anymore. I won't get them a smart phone because I think that is over the top. If they want to pay for it then I might reconsider. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463723 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:13:44 +0000 .twist. 1463723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: I was SO angry about it. We got the eldest an iPod for xmas because he BEGGED us and we were getting pressure from grandparents (!!!) and we felt bad. He had limited time and if he misbehaved it was taken away. It was also CRAZY restricted. to the point where he tried to buy something from the app store and "create" his own password and it locked itself. We didn't know how to unlock it so he went without for like... 3 months! Then she goes and does this. UGH. unlimited time at their house. Don't even get me started with how she afforded that for them on welfare while she "can't even afford lunch meat". *grumble* </p> <p>eta: whooooops, kinda went on a bit of a rant! /rant</p> <p>@lilteacherbee: ugh. I'm actually trying to get L into a school that doesn't use tablets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463712 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:08:04 +0000 lilteacherbee 1463712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: @lawbee11: we have tablets in our pre-k class and I hate it! At this age, kids shouldn't WANT to be staring at a screen all the time. I have about 5 kids who are OBSESSED with the tablets. That's the only thing they want to play with. Then, when I say their time is up, they go to the computer, then the iPod. Drives me nuts. We have a classroom full of toys and other children, but they would rather sit still and play on the tablet by themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463711 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:07:01 +0000 cascademom 1463711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably around 16-17 years old. I got one when I could drive too. I have a horrible sense of direction so much so that my brother thought my parents were crazy to let me drive by myself at that time. Cell phone helped a lot. One of my coworkers gave her 9 year old a cell phone because the iPhone was free on their plan. That seems so young to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-will-you-let-your-lo-get-a-cell-phone#post-1463708 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 13:05:33 +0000 Cole 1463708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably earlier than the norm but we live in an area where kids walk to school and some activities on their own or with friends around third grade or so. A bit older than that and parents let the kids walk to get ice cream or to the park to hang out with friends. </p> <p>A friend had a good compromise on wanting that safety feature and limiting exposure to electronics all the time, her plan is to get a "house" phone that belongs to the family and not to one child exclusively and require it be plugged in in the kitchen when not in use. We will probably use a similar plan. </p>