It seems like the age that kids get cell phones these days keeps getting younger and younger.  I remember I got a cell phone in 8th grade and I was one of the very few kids that had one.  Now, I swear, I’ll be at the mall and see a 10 year old with one.  But I mean when you really think about it, how do you determine what is the right age for a kid to get a cell phone?

There is a big debate about this.  Yes, cell phones can be used in an emergency purpose and it’s beneficial for a parent to be able to reach their child at anytime they want.  Sometimes things happen, practice gets cancelled or they forgot their lunch in the car, and being able to reach them whenever you need to is definitely a luxury.  Schools aren’t as safe as they use to be.  There are shootings and bombings and all kinds of crazy stuff going on there.  If a child has a cell phone they will able to call 911 or call their parents. I know they came out with some phones for children that only allow you to dial the parents cell phone, home, or another emergency phone number.  Another one even has a GPS locating device and has games on it from leapfrog.

There are definitely some bad things too.  The most obvious: Money.  Sure, adding another line to your plan is usually pretty cheap, around $10 a month.  But… what happens when they go over their minutes?  What about when they text?  What if they decide to use the internet on their phone or download games & ringtones? Things can definitely add up.  Kids can get in trouble with their phones.  They don’t have a parent or authority figure monitering what they say or text or to whom.  Who knows what could be going on.  They will have pretty much complete access to the internet, messenger services, and email, and everyone has seen “to catch a predator” on NBC and knows what kind of things can happen.  That is a pretty scary thing.

Owning a cell phone use to be a privilege, but now they seem to be as common as an iPod or portable gaming device.  So I’m curious, what are your thoughts on this issue?  Those of you with kids:  Do your kids have a phone?  If so, how old are they?  If they don’t, what are your reasons?  Those of you w/o kids:  Are you going to let your kids have a phone when they are young?  Why/Why not?  Share your thoughts with me!