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Is 9 1/2 too young for a phone for basic calls and texts?

3,620 2,238 March 17, 2014 at 11:21 AM in Question (3)
Was thinking about giving my daughter a phone. We have no house phone, only cell phones. Was thinking about getting her one so if she is at the rink and done early, she could call me to come get her or something like that. Or call her friends around the block rather than using my phone?

Wondering what is an appropriate age. She is not overly mature, not immature either.
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Joined Apr 2006
Ms. Moneypenny, I presume
> bubble2 4,764 Posts
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James Bond 007
03-17-2014 at 01:35 PM.
03-17-2014 at 01:35 PM.
2 pages and still no Boltman sighting? Scratchchin
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
707 Reputation
Iaaaiws
03-17-2014 at 01:38 PM.
03-17-2014 at 01:38 PM.
Quote from James Bond 007 :
2 pages and still no Boltman sighting? Scratchchin
I don't think he can post here from a pay phone.
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Joined Jan 2007
Free hugs!
> bubble2 16,512 Posts
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uniquename
03-17-2014 at 01:39 PM.
03-17-2014 at 01:39 PM.
Quote from emelvee :
My mom rang a hand bell when it was time to come home for dinner.

They had bells back then?
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
707 Reputation
Iaaaiws
03-17-2014 at 01:42 PM.
03-17-2014 at 01:42 PM.
Quote from uniquename :
They had bells back then?
Now we know who cracked the Liberty Bell
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Joined May 2006
Boating
> bubble2 21,228 Posts
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Piccaboo
03-17-2014 at 01:49 PM.
03-17-2014 at 01:49 PM.
Quote from Frogstar :
Next time you're out and about, see how many pay phones you can find...
I found a payphone booth with no phone in it woot when I stopped for gas and wanted to check the air in my tires Whee

Quote from emelvee :
My mom rang a hand bell when it was time to come home for dinner.
Better than a neighbor out back when I was little screaming her kids name until she came home for dinner Rofl2
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Last edited by Piccaboo March 17, 2014 at 01:49 PM.
Joined Mar 2009
Schrödinger's Frog
> bubble2 19,435 Posts
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Frogstar
03-17-2014 at 01:58 PM.
03-17-2014 at 01:58 PM.
Quote from Piccaboo :
I found a payphone booth with no phone in it woot when I stopped for gas and wanted to check the air in my tires Whee
You don't get an accurate reading on your tire pressure with warm tires Nono1
There's a leftover payphone kiosk with no phone in it just outside my office, too.
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Joined May 2006
Boating
> bubble2 21,228 Posts
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Piccaboo
03-17-2014 at 02:00 PM.
03-17-2014 at 02:00 PM.
Quote from Frogstar :
You don't get an accurate reading on your tire pressure with warm tires Nono1
There's a leftover payphone kiosk with no phone in it just outside my office, too.
I know that, but I sat and waited for a bit after getting gas, going to the bathroom, buying lottery tickets, and waiting it out Stick Out Tongue
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Joined Oct 2009
L∞: Pro Bono
> bubble2 11,184 Posts
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calistyle
03-17-2014 at 02:02 PM.
03-17-2014 at 02:02 PM.
Quote from dizzsunshine :
Was thinking about giving my daughter a phone. We have no house phone, only cell phones. Was thinking about getting her one so if she is at the rink and done early, she could call me to come get her or something like that. Or call her friends around the block rather than using my phone?

Wondering what is an appropriate age. She is not overly mature, not immature either.
How often do those things actually occur with her? I would definitely consider that...

I mean, how frequently is she ready to leave the rink early? Or how frequently is she calling her friends around the block?

Quote from Iaaaiws :
When I was that age you didn't need to call home for a ride--you walked. Uphill. Both ways.

And you didn't need to call to say you would be home late. You knew when you had to be home and you got there on time. No excuses.

When parents needed to call their kids they just went out on the front porch and screamed their name a few times. You could tell by the tone if you were in real trouble and had to get home immediately or if you just needed to check in as soon as possible.
Smilie
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Last edited by calistyle March 17, 2014 at 02:04 PM.
Joined Nov 2008
L8: Grand Teacher
> bubble2 3,620 Posts
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Original Poster
dizzsunshine
03-17-2014 at 03:03 PM.
03-17-2014 at 03:03 PM.
Thanx everyone for the legit responses. I think that I will. She will not go over minutes, she is responsible for that. She won't call or text much. Many relevant posts. When I was a kid, and I was done with practice, I could use the pay phone and collect call my mom, who in turn would not accept the charges but knew it was time to be picked up. Pay phones are a thing of the past, so in this day and age, cell phones are the only option. I work 35 minutes away, my mom didn't work. a lot of things are different now than when I was a kid. It was safe to leave the house first thing in the morning and not return until dinner. Not now! at least not where I live. I had a house phone when I was growing up, so if I wanted to call my friends, I did just that. I don't have a house phone at their disposal. If for some reason in the near future, I decide to leave her home on short stints, I would feel better knowing she could call "someone" It was not a question of whether or not a kid should have a cell phone, the question was whether or not 9 1/2 was too young for a simple trac phone type thing as a safety measure. She is at the ice rink a lot. There is no pay phone. Walking home 4 miles is a little too much to ask after 3 hours of skating IMHO. I will get the phone, call it the "house phone" that I can determine when and where she can take it. Smilie
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Joined Jan 2007
The Mistress of All Evil!
> bubble2 22,510 Posts
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Maleficent
03-17-2014 at 03:35 PM.
03-17-2014 at 03:35 PM.
For what purpose does a kid in elementary school need to be texting? Huh

Mine's almost eight - I haven't even considered getting him a phone yet.

My 8-year-old niece got a smartphone for Christmas. She uses it for everything but making phone calls. laugh out loud She spends an exorbitant amount of time watching youtube videos, playing games, and texting everyone she knows.

Do you have any idea how awkward it is getting texts from an 8-year-old? Don't give her any phone numbers she doesn't need. Like her aunts and uncles. Tongue No one should have to have that kind of suffering inflicted on them.
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Joined Jan 2007
Free hugs!
> bubble2 16,512 Posts
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uniquename
03-17-2014 at 03:41 PM.
03-17-2014 at 03:41 PM.
Quote from Maleficent :
For what purpose does a kid in elementary school need to be texting? Huh

Mine's almost eight - I haven't even considered getting him a phone yet.

My 8-year-old niece got a smartphone for Christmas. She uses it for everything but making phone calls. laugh out loud She spends an exorbitant amount of time watching youtube videos, playing games, and texting everyone she knows.

Do you have any idea how awkward it is getting texts from an 8-year-old? Don't give her any phone numbers she doesn't need. Like her aunts and uncles. Tongue No one should have to have that kind of suffering inflicted on them.

You are such a stick in the mud Stick Out Tongue
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Joined Jan 2007
The Mistress of All Evil!
> bubble2 22,510 Posts
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Maleficent
03-17-2014 at 04:11 PM.
03-17-2014 at 04:11 PM.
Quote from uniquename :
You are such a stick in the mud Stick Out Tongue
Why, because I want to be a parent, not my kid's BFF? Tongue
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Joined Jan 2007
Free hugs!
> bubble2 16,512 Posts
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uniquename
03-17-2014 at 04:20 PM.
03-17-2014 at 04:20 PM.
Quote from Maleficent :
Why, because I want to be a parent, not my kid's BFF? Tongue

Send a duckface selfie and call it good. Just do it.
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Joined Jan 2007
The Mistress of All Evil!
> bubble2 22,510 Posts
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Maleficent
03-17-2014 at 04:22 PM.
03-17-2014 at 04:22 PM.
Quote from uniquename :
Send a duckface selfie and call it good. Just do it.
Wouldn't you rather have someone with a permanent duck face, like ALVS?
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Joined Jan 2007
Free hugs!
> bubble2 16,512 Posts
854 Reputation
uniquename
03-17-2014 at 04:23 PM.
03-17-2014 at 04:23 PM.
Quote from Maleficent :
Wouldn't you rather have someone with a permanent duck face, like ALVS?
Roll
Roll
Roll

Fake lips FTW Whee
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