advice on cell phone for 11-yr-old

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ctherose

ctherose

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My daughter was bugging me for a cell phone. Rarely is she anywhere outside of school without a parent. Last summer she would take my phone to the pool so she could call when she & her sister wanted me to pick them up. This Sept. my husband got a new job and a company phone so he said she could have his old phone. I wasn't thrilled with this as I wanted to just cancel his plan and save $50/month. Well, the phone is still in service and I just haven't had time to really think about it. It would be handy for her to have a phone this summer again. Does anyone have any advice about prepaid phones? Is is possible to keep the old cell # & transfer to a prepaid service? Any thoughts on the different companies offering prepaid?

Yeah, I survived without a phone at that age, but I also lived in the country and never went far from home because it's hard to petal a bike on gravel!
 
They have these Net 10 phones, it is like 30.00 for 300 paid minutes, and it can have your old number if you want, but this way she will be responsiable to know that is all that she can use, as well they have texting and such on them, I think know days all children should have one, but that is my 2 cents, with all that is going on in the world, we live in, and also you may want to call your own provider they have plans for children as well as safety things as well on them, ya know that 1--800 and 1900 babe things blocked as well on them,,,
 
Kids do like to text and talk on phones.. I suggest unlimited texting and minutes.

one out of control bill and you'll thank you lucky stars.
Plus, kids share, if some other child gets ahold of her phone,,,,I hate to imagine!

I don't have kids, but if I did, they'd have phones, and they be left on at all times, that would be my only "BIG must do" rule.

This is a crazy world we live in and I think it's good for kids to know they can get their mom or dad on the phone when ever they need.

And I also agree with the Queen about "900babe" 900#'s period!!
 
I'm not sure an 11 year old "needs" a phone, but they are handy for tracking them down, and keeping tabs.

I disagree on the unlimited minutes, but agree on the unlimited text...
 
we started both our kids on prepaid trac phones. They both got something like 700-900 minutes cost was about $100 for flip phone and minutes.

It taught them responsibility and if they wanted to abuse the minutes talking aimlessly with friends, they could pay for more minutes. We decided on this after watching my niece ring up $$$$ bills with nonsense charges.

My son turned out to be pretty frugal and still had minutes when he graduated to his current phone. Our daughter still has hers and she prefers to just buy more minutes because that is cheaper than being locked into a contract.

good luck
 
I think you should be concerned about the health consequences from cell phone radiation for such a young child. There is no scientific proof but I would be worried.
 
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Gigi said:
I think you should be concerned about the health consequences from cell phone radiation for such a young child. There is no scientific proof but I would be worried.
Click to expand...
Yea, look at Bloomz....

Seriously though... is there really anything to cell phone radiation?
 
My 11 year old is bugging me for 1 too. I am trying to hold off until he enters Jr. High in the fall.

I heard it was cheaper to just add them to my plan (with unlimited text of course)...although I like the idea of them having to pay for the minutes.

A friend suggested the phone with the GPS so you can see where they are. My main rule will be that I have to know the voicemail password (just like I have to know their email passwords), just in case.
 
BOSS said:
Seriously though... is there really anything to cell phone radiation?
Click to expand...

I suggest you google it and decide for yourself. Whenever the gouvernement starts looking into something im skeptical... my thinking is they already know something isnt right but it may take years before we know for sure.
 
TracPhone.....allowance for chores.....responsibility.....
hand in hand
 
Well, cant offer advice on the phone contract side of things but my seven and eight year olds are asking for them. I have just said absolutely not as they only play where i can see them or within spitting distance from home. I am hoping i can manage to hold them off until they are 11, some parents at the school are already allowing young junior children to have them.

I dont judge them but i dont want to feel pressured to get them one either...
 
I just got a prepaid go phone in Dec for my daughters who share it - when we go skiing. They are only 8 and 7, but are always together. My kids already ski faster than me and we have been separated when they take a wrong trail and end up at a different lift... it scares the crap out of me. We could have done the walkie talkie thing but I felt better knowing they'd be able to call 911, their dad, cousin, friends or who ever we are skiing with that day.

I also let them take it to school if I don't have an afternoon sitter and I may be late getting to the bus stop (I work 25 min from home). Even though they can't turn it on while they are on the bus. I can text them and let them know I'll be home in a few min.

Or like today (snow day)... they are at various friend's houses on our street. It's just nice to be able to call or text if they're outside their friends house or playing in their house, without bugging their parents. Often in this cell phone age... people just ignore house phones.

It was $20 for a refurb LG with a camera and other cool features. $25 for the first card. I picked the plan thats $1 per each day of use and $.10 per min, but they rarely use it more that once of twice a week. Some weeks not at all. There are different plans, that would be better for daily use.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...&startFilter=false&allFeatures=on&allManus=on
 
I'm raising my 11 yr. old nephew and it will be years before he gets a cell phone. Be careful, my 15 yr. old neice came to visit and sextexting was a HUGE isue. At 11 it all starts! I would suggest a very cheap phone plan that you can buy at grocery stores and pay for pre paid minutes a month at a time. Be very careful of sex texting!
 
the best way to discourage an 11 year old from having a cell phone is start them off with a rotary dial model!!...they had "push" buttons, but dialed an analogue rotary signal
 

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wow, my sister had that phone waaaaaaay back in the early 90's. I remember having to carry it into the mall (had a soft case) so it wouldn't be stolen from her car in the parking garage. It was like carrying a briefcase! Ah, memories.
 
We got our daughter a cell phone last year when she was attending basketball camp. With a four phone family package and a bulk minutes buy, we were able to keep the costs really low for all of us. Two things to do when you select a phone::

1) block all downloading of games & ringtones
2) block web access if it's provided with the service

Be sure to take a peek periodically at the phone numbers that call her, as well as the text she's receiving.

Unfortunately, I had to be 'mean Mommy' this Christmas and tell her Santa would not be bringing her her #1 gift choice, an iPod Touch. I found out they are Wi-Fi enabled and she could surf the web on any open connection. No way were we going to allow her web access without us around (we keep our PCs in the family room so all web activity is monitored). It's not that we don't trust her, it's the creeps on the WWW who prey on the trusting nature of kids.
 
CHR said:
(we keep our PCs in the family room so all web activity is monitored).
Click to expand...
Who monitors **you**??? Hmmmmm

I get to work at 6-6:30 am EST and you're on here sometimes... I know...you never sleep, must be an FC thing...

:spam:
 
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Two good possibilities for you to consider. I myself use a Tracfone.....have had NO problems at all.......or look into the jitterbug line of phones.....they even have a three button model....operator, 922, home.

www.jitterbug.com

or

www.tracfone.com
 
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