Depends on their age. Under 12, I say no. But, 12 and up...its a good idea so they can keep in touch about after school activities and changes in plans for who is picking them up, etc... I was so glad to get my daughter a cell phone when she turned 12. It definitely made me feel better knowing she could always get a hold of me no matter whether she had money for a pay phone or not. Not that she was out by herself or anything, but when she had after school stuff and it ran late or early sometimes the school office would be closed already so there was no phone for her to use to call me. There were a couple times she ended up waiting for me for an extra hour by herself because she had no way of getting in touch. You would think teachers wouldn't leave kids like that or that coaches would stick around. Well, they don't always and not all of them had a phone for her to use either. It made sense to get her a phone. I was impressed she only went over her minutes twice!

I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 14.

I think that parents should get their kids those phones where they can only call out to three numbers- parents and 911. Then once they are responsible and old enough for a real phone get them a basic one. Kids do not need the latest it phone

I think a problem with kids and cell phones though is that parents let the cell phones replace them because they have this belief that they can get a hold of them all the time. They still need to remember that they should know and talk to their kid about where they are all the time

I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 22. But, I'm a

I agree that those kids' phones that can only call emergency and parents are best for younger kids. I don't really know what the exact right age is to allow a full service phone, though. I know I had a phone in my room from the time I was around 9 or 10. But I didn't have my own line - never did. Twelve sounds like a good age.

jennifer76, I had a phone too..in my room, but not my own line. I had friends that had their own lines though. I thought that was so cool. I didn't get a cell phone til I was 26!!! So I am right there with ya on that!! LOL, but I wanted the security of a cell phone for my daughter. It worked for us. It depends on the kid too. They have to be somewhat responsible.

i think its up to the parents ...i know by a certain age id want to give my daughter one of those kid phones that has like 5 programmed numbers and u cant do anything else but call those numbers this way i can always reach her and her me if theres an emergency

I'm really strict on stuff like this. I know where my 9 year old is at all times, so no, she doesn't need a cell. When she's old enough to drive, or be on her own more often, then yes, she can have one.
Side note: I also think it's depending on the child. My boyfriend's 10 year old got a cell for Christmas and in two months has already run up one huge bill, lost it twice, and dropped it in water...

hellz no. I did not get a cellphone til I turned 15. Don't regret not having it 'cause it does not serve any definitive purpose when you're soo young.

Small children shouldn't be unsupervised anyway, so presumably there would always be an adult nearby you can contact. A cell phone for a little kid is unnecessary, IMO.

But Robin's right; it depends on the kid. My daughter is 13 and just got hers for Xmas - she simply wasn't responsible enough until then.

I don't think a kid needs a cell phone until they can drive. I never went anywhere by myself without an adult present (besides school, where there are adults) until I could drive. I hate seeing a little kid with a cell phone.

For the younger kids that want to go wireless, I like the idea of parental control cell phone, ie LG Migo or the Firefly.

Regular cell phones with texting and all that, I'd save that for the older set (15/16+).

if they need to contact their parents then yes. i would hope they would be with the parents until age 12 or 13, or with trusted friends, relatives. my third grader has a kid in her class that got a cell for christmas and it's a huge popularity boost. it's pink and sparkly, lol.

personally anything that takes me out of the loop with my kids i vote no on for as long as possible. that might make my kids "dorks" to their peers, but i read about the way myspace and im's are hurting young girls and well, so be it.

I had my first cellphone when I was in 3rd grade.. I think it was a Ringo.. all it could do was call..

Right now, I think they should have cellphones. I remember getting lost in a department store when I was small it it would've been easier if I had a phone and could contact my parents.

All in all, as long as the parents feel a need for it(like they go out a lot or whatever) then yes, they should have cellphones but parents should keep an eye on how their children use it..

My parents bought me my first cell phone at age 10, a few days after 9/11. They wanted me to have it in case something went wrong while in school and needed them. I was to keep it with me 99% of the time. As months went by my parents calmed down a bit and I didn't have to take it as often. A few of my friends also got one soon after the attacks; parents were in panic mode and I understand why.

I personally think it's ridiculous to see a child w/ a cell phone. I saw an eight year old the other day at Dunkin Donuts talking on her cell phone while her mother was trying to talk to her and the girl behind the counter was trying to take her order. it was so rude... not to mention unnecessary. I agree that maybe when they start driving they may need a cell for emergency purposes only. having a cell phone should not be a replacement for parental supervision. I got my first cell phone when I was 17. didn't really need one until then. I may have wanted one, but kids don't always know what's best for them. that's what parents are for.

Yes they should, especially if they attend secondary school' or at or over the age of eleven, in case of emergency or country havok and there are traffic jams

Just a note that if you see a child talking on a cell phone in public, it may not be thier phone. When my husband calls from Iraq, both of my kids get a chance to talk to him and while I try to be considerate of those around me, I'm not hanging up on that call to make a clerk's life easier for one minute of their day. And depending on where I am, I get a LOT of judgmental looks and even a snide comment or two. Apparently we've gotten to the point where no one believes that ANY call could possibly be important. Just an FYI...

It's up to the parents. However, today's society makes it a necessity. I would say if the kid is responsible then get them one.

as far as i know there is an option of kids phone where there is importan limited phone list like mom and dad and emergency calls. that would a be a great options!

oh a great parents phone situation first time a phone situation graced the tv. love that scene great acting!

I do not think that children should have cellphones. Just looking at the toys offered these days - it seems that children want to be teens at a younger and younger age and, despite how free-spirited I liked to live... I really feel that some of these toys are giving children the wrong message. Instead of cellphones, I think we should have another communication device (I think I saw a pseudo-cell like it somewhere... Firefly, I think) that lets the child call mom or dad or another emergency number in case something should happen. I do not think, however, they need to be worrying about txting and calling their friends...

i think once kids hit middle school and they're more likely to venture off on their own, then they should get a phone. but, when you're in elementary school, how could a parent NOT know where you are?

I think after age 10 it's ok, but I think one of the phones that can only dial like 3 or 4 numbers is appropriate. They don't need to be calling everyone they know. Just parents/guardians or 911 and that's it. My nephew and niece have their own phone and they are 7 and 9 and I personally think is't silly. They're almost never without their parents so what's the point. I see my nephew calling his friends at times and he doesn't need his own cell phone for that.

children should only have cell phones, when they can help pay for them and be responsible. ITs a right of passage to wait in front of the school/library or wherever for a hour Hoping to see your moms car pull up! Where is a kid going to be that doesnt have a land line? adult supervision? if they are there, than maybe you need to address that subject and not cell phone use.

My 10 year old niece asked "when am i getting a cell phone" and her mother, my sister says "when you can pay for it" Knowing that her daughter doesnt need to be talking/texting/sending pictures to anyone.

i got my first cellphone when i was in the 5th grade, Im 19 now. First reason, so my mom could reach me, and second because almost everyone else had one. Cell phones are very much needed now, in most schools if you don't have a phone on you then your seen as a loser, and thats the sad truth. Its makes it hard to hang out with friends. I mean if your friend says "i'll text you the details later" and you don't have a phone, that just makes things harder. If your kid wants a phone then get them one. Just make sure you get unlimited text and minutes so that you wont get a random skyhigh bill.