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When they're old enough to help pay for it.

At 6 I would get my kids one of those emergency phones that can only call like 4 numbers and 911. Probably 12-13 for a "real" phone

When my boys have jobs or pick up extra chores for pocket money and can pay for their phones and plans, they may have them

I think when a child is the age to go in public without adult supervision then they're old enough to have at least an emergency cell phone.

No way in hell would my 4 or 5 (5 and 6 at the end of the year) get a cell phone! DH and I have had this discussion before; he got his first at 12 and I got my first at 15. I personally think that 14 or 15 is a good age.

I have seen children between the ages of 4-10 with smurfing Iphones. C'mon now....Really? Who the hell do they need to talk to!?

I'd say when they are allowed to go in public without adult supervision. When they get to the age of after school activities and etc.

Quoting B-Baby:" A friend of mine's son turned 6 today! Hard to believe he's already 6!!! But his dad and SM got him a ... [snip!] ... I personally think when they can truly understand the responsibility of having one. That could mean 12 or that could be 15."

Lily is 9 and has a cell phone and she's very responsible with it, and I ABSOLUTELY feel the need for her to have it.

I would probably say maybe as early as 11, like a very simple phone with a tracker.

When they pay for it their selves.

An emergency phone with pre programmed numbers as soon as they are old enough to know how to use it and will be going.places (Friends houses ect.) with out me. A real phone with out internet usage or picture messaging at 12-14 depending on her maturity. IMO some parents these days are way too lax with their children's cellphone usage. A while ago my SO had one of his brothers female friends (13) texting him suggestively even after he made it very clear he wasnt interested in even talking appropriately with her and that he thought what she was doing was extremely inappropriate. Then when he stopped answering she tried sending him a picture of her in her bra and underwear... We called her mother at that point who just said "Oh well she's just curious! Ill just tell her not to text you any more!" If that was my kid they wouldn't have a cellphone any more...

i was 16 when i got my first. crazy how some 10 year olds i know have iphones.  

Quoting Brookie99:" An emergency phone with pre programmed numbers as soon as they are old enough to know how to use it and ... [snip!] ... she's just curious! Ill just tell her not to text you any more!" If that was my kid they wouldn't have a cellphone any more..."

WTF?  

imho it depends on the kid. I personally wouldn't get them a phone until they can pay for it (via chores or job) the only way they would get one sooner is if they stay after school a lot and even then it'd be prepay and programmed to call certain numbers.

<blockquote><b>Quoting C's Mommy +1:</b>" WTF?  "</blockquote>




Yep and SO is 20.. Sadly I wasn't surprised. In my home town there are 14 year old girls DATING 20 year old men and their parents allow it... Im seriously appalled at some of the things parents in my area think is appropriate for 12-15 year old girls.