Hello,

I once had a discussion about this but should a 7 year old really have a Cell phone or something like it?
To me I could see a 12+ year old being a bit more mature enough to be using one, but a 7 year old? I say No as that just makes my skin crawl for some reason, as you never know what they could be doing on it, also it is a poor substitute for being a babysitter. Those kinds of parents just make me cringe like crazy.

They could be ripping their parents or single parent off of their Credit Card, talking to strangers for example or some other thing that is generally frowned upon.

Your Thoughts?
I merely am just discussing this as I am curious as to the general consensus.

They have phones set up specifically for youths. They only work for parent aproved phone numbers. But I can’t imaging why a 7 year old would need one at all. When is a seven year old not under adult supervision?

You'd be surprised, I have Heard Rumors and seen Newscasts to the Effect that would lead me to think otherwise. But as to the phones only working for youths I did not know about that, I had always assumed it was just an Older Cell phone with full access the parents had given them due to the parents getting a new one.

Some parents may do that, but there are simpler phones available that parents can program for a few emergency numbers. My 12 year old nephew can call/text and receive calls/text from his parents, grandparents, scouts, a few approved friends and me. I think it’s a responsible option for parents. I’m not sure which services provide this option. I’d have to ask my sister.

I see, hmmm I have learnt something new tonight then. I have heard of Family Plans but not of Youth styled phones.

I was surprised by it too. My sister gets an alert on her phone when her son is outside of the area where he is supposed to be too. No sneaking out when spending the night at a friend’s house.

well then that is even better and sheds a whole different view or light on things.

But 7 year olds? Some people have concerns about the effects of cell phone radiation on young children. Not many studies have been done on it yet because most young people don’t use them frequently enough. I hope it stays that way for awhile longer.

Well I think that 7 years Old is a bit young to have access to that kind of tech. In my opinion it just makes them miss out on their childhood a little faster as that have to be more responsible and be a bit more grown up.
I say let kids be kids and let the adults do the Adults things they need to do.

Absolutely!

heck when I was a kid my mom would send me out to play, now i generally hear no happy kids playing outside, playing in something called DIRT/MUD ETC, ETC, as least where i live.

Myself I see no reason for a 7 year old to have one but that is just my opinion...

My daughter got one by the time she was 16 ... but now my oldest granddaughter is 15 and has had one since she was like 10.. Which is nice for we have a way to contact her ect...

I do not think it is a bad idea once they get around 10 specially with all the things happening now days.. Too much kidnapping happening it could actually save a life if they have them in order to find them..

I really like the idea due to the App you can put on the phone to see where they are......

I am very old school. I think tech has become the LORD of all in this age and we are constantly bombarded with messages that we cant possibly survive without it and we will be FORCED to be dependent on it so just join on up ...

I don't agree. Landlines worked just fine because people didn't feel ENTITLED to other people's time around the clock. My daughter wants a phone badly, mostly because the majority always carry one around. But I don't want another bill for something I don't feel she needs. Before cell phones, children weren't dropping like flies exactly. there should be an adult supervising a child who has the proper resources and contacts for whatever they may 'need' so I really don't see why a child needs one. I'm the old school parent that needs to know little things like who my kid is talking to and hanging with, and cell phones are just a bit too easy for people to get in under the radar because they're attached at the hip in a way I cant be.

so my answer, if it's not already obvious, is a big fat no.

I would not want a child to have a cell phone unless of course I wanted to radiate his or her little brain..which I don't..I think if for nothing else parents should err to the side of caution until there are more well known facts of the effects of cell phones on the brain..jmo...

Landlines also worked well for people in the past because there wasn't the internet to contend with, and people didn't travel far or if they did it was to either see old friends or relatives.

My kids taught me how to use Facebook etc. My daughter got her phone at 12. She isn't allowed to have the locator on Snapchat turned on.

I can not blame you for telling her to have the locator off in Snapchat at Her age, but I can also see that your trust her as well.

Id have to disagree there. there were planes and trains and automobiles in my childhood, people traveled plenty.

Indeed there were those things but it does not seem as bad as it is now, what with technology being everywhere in our lives now. It is this greedy LOrd like thing as was mentioned by you Msharmony.

Kirsten's