There have been several previous lengthy discussions about kids having cell phones. Here's one: community.greatschools.net/q-and-a/355831/Cell-phones-for-children-a-right-or-a-privilege-

We resisted getting our son a cell phone until high school, when he would stay late for extracurricular activities, and needed to be picked up at different times. It was a "basic" style phone. When he got a part-time job at age 16, one of the first things he did was get a fancier model, and we agreed that if he wanted "unlimited texting" then he had to pay for it, since it's a "social" feature, not a basic necessity. We provide the "normal monthly service" and he contributes the rest of the cost.

My middle school-age son has been asking (bugging, actually) for a cell phone, because "all his friends have them." Yes, many middle schoolers have cell phones. My son won't be one of them.

You should check out the discussion link posted in healthy11's response. It will give you all the pros and cons you need to know on the subject.

Good luck.

High end seems to have certainly been the trend in our country but things may be changing in the current economy. I've seen young children as well as Middle Schoolers have very high end phones and many if not yet most have their own cell phones.
In part it's convenient. In my school, we discourage students from using teachers' desk phones - I think it's a mistaken policy but it's a policy my principal mandates. What happens when play practice is cancelled or the after school baseball game is rained out? Kids need to get in touch with their parents. Family plan cell phones make it easy to do that and these days it's getting hard if not impossible to find a pay phone.
You might ask your son - does he need to have and do everything to be in the group? Is he willing to work to earn the extra money his high end cell phone will cost?
And where does this end? What high end purchase will the group make next?
If it's important enough to him, perhaps he'd figure out a way to earn the money the high end phone would cost.
Good luck.

I believe kids should have a phone only when needed. My son got put of a great school. Because a phone he felt like he needed it . And later he really didn't so as a parent think twice. Talk to teacher first.

I believe iphones for middle schoolers should not be allowed inside the classrooms. Students should surrender the phone to the school security or school officials and they could claim it only after their classes. But for emergency cases, school officials should relay the message to the students. Ringing iphones and or answering it hampers class discussion and teacher's momentum of teaching suffers as well as students learning time.

Not just no, but heck no!!!! I don't think kids need phones at all until they're in high school. It's a waste of time and money.

NO they are not necessary. We allow our children to have the phone for emergency calling, not saying that's all they do with it. They have computers also at home to do media work or entertainment.

Cell phones for middle schoolers? Perhaps if helpful for sports, events, and traveling to/from friends homes and school. But basic phone with text/data/internet disabled and absolutely not a high end phone (that we don't even have).

Our son who will be entering middle school was just given a phone. It allows us to communicate with him while he is with friends or at the community center. He is able to feel more independent and we are able to feel good about being able to communicate with him. He knows that if he abuses it, it will be taken away. He has texting but not data. Because we are a busy family of 5, this has been a good thing for us. So, depending on your circumstances, it could be good for you too. As far as having a high end phone, I don't think that's necessary. Maybe you live in an area where that is common, but we don't.

I also agree phone should be not allowed in classrooms and should be kept in lockers for kids of ALL ages (High School included). I think it is a decent idea for a middle school child to have a very basic cell phone depending on the level of activities they are involved in. But in now way should a middle schooler have or need to have a high-end smartphone.

Healthy11 and MagnetMom have the right ideas!

Phones are very important to kids of all ages. It is a huge safety issue BUT, you dont need a high end $300 cell phone to call your mom to tell her your not going straiight home today your instead going to a friends house. I have some health problems that can cause me to go into seizures at random times and I wish my daughter was able to turn her phone on during passing periods or at lunch and check her texts to make sure everything is ok. So personally I think that all kids should have a cellphone but a high end one is definately not needed.

Middle Schoolers don't essentially need any technology above a basic cell phone and laptop computer. All other technology is a waste of funds and will be a target for those without.

Middle Schoolers that have high end technology are those who are big enough to protect it. If your child is not a fighter, trouble maker, nor have strong friends with a protective nature about themselves, than kiss that technology goodbye. A Judge will ask you one question... "Did you see him/her take it!" If the answer is "no", than your child and you have lost a large part of your home expense and schools can't and won't help you.

Every family must make this decision based on their own individual circumstances. What can you afford financially? How responsible and mature is the student who thinks they need a phone. We consider them to be
the newest fad. Both of our children were given Tracfones that we buy time for and they must manage . It was less then adding them on our current plan. They work well. Our kids can stay in touch with us and can text others if need be. They know if they are responsible for keeping the phone charged and making sure they have enough minutes when they need them. We have made it clear that they must turn their phone on after they come out of school to check for messages or change in plans. Yes others do have the high end phones but our kids understand that it should not matter what they have to communicate with their parents, if it does then
these kids are not their true friends.

umm as a kid iphones are cool but they aren't such a huge needy accessory just get him/her a ipod touch or something cell phones are just phones we use em to txt and call our friends/family its not a big deal some kids have em some don't its not a huge group thing plus if he scratches it there goes that and if he loses it there goes your $300.

About the only thing I would pay extra for is the tracking option for their phone & 500 minutes a month. let them know if they exceed their minutes their phone will only receive calls or call us only. As far as texting; if the parents use texting then only need text plan. If these kids want more require good grades & then allow them to find a way to pay them selves for upgrades. Make sure you know how the get the money to buy these expensive phone & options. If your children have phones when they are in High School you buy them a hands free system as soon as they get a car!

That's a really good point. Unfortunately, despite best efforts, there is still a lot of bullying going on in schools.

For those concidering this you might want to know that the $299 iPhone is not available for insurance & replacement is $699. Plus you must get the full unlimited data package at $30 a month on top of the service you set up.

The Bullying you speak of is common among children, especially within the average home/family. Since most (not all) children learn that bullying within the home is acceptable, than as a matter of consideration "Why not at school?" At home parents often police the bullying when they see/experience it from their children, but law forbids teachers from taking parental steps in combating bullying. Teachers are left with one alternative - Report It. Teachers who take steps to act as parents (without the cussing, threats, and hitting) to stop a bully WILL face the only defense a child has... LIE... As a parent of a Senior (see photo) I have captured my daughter in lies directed toward adult authority figures at school who took steps to report to me my child's activities. In defense, in keeping out of trouble with me, she denied EVERYTHING! She inturn accused the teacher of mis-givings and inappropriate statements. She even got a couple of her friends to side with her against the teacher. My cure for this illness was simple. If the teacher reports it, than it's the same as God Declaring it, and God is never wrong. Her bullying and inappropriate behavior stopped! At lease it stopped in the eyes of adult authority figures. If I learn from her peers that it continues, whether they lie or not, than it is the same as though The Angels of Heaven Declared it and consequences follow. She understood this very clearly, especially after a few of her peers reported her acts/actions to me. So much for one bully... several hundred to go.

I do not feel middle school children need smart phones in middle school. Additionally they have applications that may help students cheat or distract them with games. They can surf the web in the computer room at school or at home for resources. They only need a cell phone to check in with parents as far as I am concerned.

I honestly believe that if the child is responsible enough to handle homework and chores that there is nothing wrong with having an iPhone. Signs of responsibility are the key and as long as you let the child know that they have to prove they are responsible enough over a period of time I don't see anything wrong with that.

Our children are going to face bullying issues over and over again. This is a good learning opportunity - teach them that they do not have to follow the crowd. Those iphones are definitely not something they need. Besides, in our district cell phone use is prohibited during school hours.

This sounds more like a con job on good ole' Mom. However, if this is the case, you may be missing a teaching point here. If the group is really saying these things to your son, they are not his friends in the first place. he can do better with true friends. The "high-end" phones will come later in his young life.

For melva_gitana2,

It is a joy to hear about a success story in youth, regarding your very life. Not very many could achieve what you have without a sound mind and guidance. I applaud whom ever provided you with the guidance and support you needed in achieving all that you have. As for your child, and your thoughts of, "I honestly believe that if the child is responsible enough to handle homework and chores that there is nothing wrong with having an iPhone." You are correct and on the number with this assessment, but what if such an item is taken, stolen, removed, etc., from the child? Public Schools are filled with children who would love to have such an item, especially from a child who can't defend oneself from such a lost. Experience is the best teacher relating to this, and if you haven't experienced it with your child than count yourself as one of the few. The many have experienced being a victim in such an endeavor. What are your feelings relating to the experiences of the many, not the few, in that should they (although considered responsible children) be allowed or disallowed to have the use and possession of an expensive technological tool in Public School?

I don't think a middle school student needs a expensive phone like a ipod. I do feel if the child is responsible enough that they could have a cheap cell phone for emergency or to call home if they need to pick up after a game or after school. The parent and the child need to set down and write a contract out with the rules and the consequences of those rules are not followed and the 1st rule should be if the school grades drops below a certain letter the phone goes back to the parent. Good luck and I hope my answer gave you some help in this matter

I think they only need a cell phone for emergencies. Iphones are very expensive and tempting to steal when taken to school, so maybe they should wait until they grow up and have their own job or money for such an extravagance

Yes, they are needed for security purposes.

I think they can have if they r mature enough and r responsible and will listen to whtever the parent says.So..I think they need to have it.

My daughter's friends mostly had smartphones by the end of 5th grade if they had a phone at all. Generally, teachers prevent the distraction of phones from being a problem, and you have the ability to make the rules of your house when your children are home. Some wireless companies even have parental control capabilities which allows you to set hours for use, block and allow numbers, etc. The only problem I see with any phone smartphone or not, is the photo capability.

While it's great to have a handy little camera to take pictures of your friends, they've been used for more sinister reasons as well. Upskirting, and photos in the locker room to name a few to later be used in cyber-bullying. Not all phones have cameras, although most seem to.

Yeah that's the new trend iphones. Technically your child doesn't need one but it would make them seem as normal as other kids at his or her school. Just imagine if you got them a cheap one then they would feel left out and no doubt kids would tease them. So its just better to give them what they want as long as they don't abuse the privilege.

I believe it up to the individual parents. I'm considering a phone for my daughter just because I need to be able to contact her regarding her after school activities and simple logistics.

My daughter is 11 entering middle school, and her dad and i are going to purchase an inexpensive phone and a lost cost plain for emergency and security.She is not quite ready for the high tech stuff.so for peace of mind i say yes if your child is able to follow the rules at school and not trying to show off.

it really depends how much you trust your kid with the high tech stuff. somee really put it use and have a good reason for having it while others don't even know how to use it and just use it for showing off. you just got to know your child

once upon a time I was a student and I did not need any of the technologies we have today. I used the school phone or my parents used to leave messages with the secretaries. i do not believe cell phones need to be use in the school (HS or middle school). We have too many interruptions in school at this time that disrupt learning.

I'm currently in middle school (going into 8th)
In six grade, most have cellphones, but not necessarily high-end phones.
By seventh, everybody pretty much has a cell phone, and a majority of students from what I've seen either have pretty good phones, a few iphones here and there. (That's just my school)
By eighth, almost everybody seems to have iphones or a phone that THEY find meets their needs.

So all in all it pretty much depends on the grade and how much you trust your child with a phone.
Most of the people at my school prefer iphones or phones in similarity, but it is technically your decision on whether or not you allow your child to have the phone.
On another hand, no matter what type of phone it is, it is helpful for your child/children to have a cell phone of some type. If there is an emergency, or if you need to call him to tell him you might be late (if you pick him up after school), or anything of similarity. A cell phone is still a good idea as long as you set ground rules.

As a parent and a teacher... They are not a MUST. However, for getting a ride home, or permission to get a ride with someone, yea, I like it. But I stress those rules harder, WHERE ya going, WHERE will you be? If you leave there, call me. Because if I come and get you and you didn't't text or call, you walk. Wow, that's rough. On the other hand, monitor the music that is on there if it can be downloaded to the phone. Those aren't necessary.... How much do ring tones cost? Support the school TOTALLY with their decisions. If they SEE the phone.... You will have to pick it up in the office, and that is generous. m.

oh yea, the Iphone has Internet, who pays for time, and in my opinion, it is totally unnecessary if you have Internet at home too. Cameras are fun.

In my opinion, the iPhone, Smartphone, or any other cellular device that does more than make a telephone call, when needed, is far too much for a middle school aged child. I believe that it's far too much for any child. However, given that we are in an information age where communication devices do far more than "we" (adults) ever imagined a telephone doing, I understand the youths' perception that the fancy phone is a neccessity. I have a 12 year old entering Middle School this fall and I have provided him with a basic telephone where I am able to restrict who calls him and who he is able to call. This way, I don't have to worry about overages because his friend needed to call "Tommy, Johnnie, Rick" or whomever.....I do not plan to purchase a high-end phone for him, and I am 90% sure he is not bold enough to ask for one.

We have T-Mobile and I bought my son (going into 7th) the flip phone...I, of course have the free phone they give you when you sign up! My thoughts on the flip phone was that when he sent messages, at least he would be using a real keyboard, so hopefully he would be learning some skills. I am kicking myself because for the life of me I cannot figure out how to read his messages without him knowing. I guess I need to contact T-Mobile and get that info on our bill. ANYWAY, his phone does have the option for internet access and that is turned off! He has asked several times for it, but no way. I want to control his access.

wpsctt1, I've got T-mobile, and I'm not aware of any way to see on a billing statement what text messages have been sent. Truthfully, when your kids get older and have unlimited texting options (my son pays for that himself, we just pay for the basic service) they can generate THOUSANDS of texts per month, and I don't think any service provider would give you records of that, unless they were subpoenaed by a court if some serious crime has been committed....

Thanks for the info. I have friends that are able to get their kid's text messages on their bill (probably it is a different provider). Our son has a text message limit and a voice limit (unless it is to another T-Mobile user) each month. We are trying to keep some control, but most of the time I feel like a hamster running in a wheel!

wpsctt1, I know the feeling! (I also haven't tried to get a text message "log" lately, so perhaps T-Mobile can provide it now, and I'm just not aware.)

Mother, when it comes to rearing children most things are left to your personal judgement. There is no hard and fast rules. What works for one parent may not work for you. If your child told you all his friends are into questionable acts, and he feels left out would you give in? If you are not comfortable with the notion of giving him an iPhone then you should not! Trend or no trend.

So if all the kids are jumpinf off bridges does that mean he should as wel? remember that old saying? My 10yr old tells me that he wants a phone because all his friends have them, I look at him and tell him you don't need one because I always know where your at? I work across the street from his school, and during the vacation he is at his grandmothers house. For his sporting events my dad works at the parks and rec., he is in a summer academy and my sister works there. So what purpose does he need a phone and he looks at me and smiles. I told him that his dad and I would discuss getting him one when he gets into middle school but for know he is fine. So I guess my advice is if you think that your child needs one then that's fine .
Most of my kids friends that have a phones are the kids that walk home, or walk to their parents work. which is good makes the child and parent feel safe.but all in all to each their own!

Yes and no. Yes, because most teenagers are responsible to have a nice phone, but others aren't. I think the iphone is sutiable for me, but I'm not really sure if I want one yet. I already have a nice phone and I'm not really sure that you are getting most of your moneys worth for just the name brand.

I'm with maggie on this one. Kids always want. Let them want it. We grew up with a dime in our pocket to call home- and how often did we ever use it? I told my 7 year old, when he's old enough to pay for his own phone, then we can talk about it.

iPhone can be a good educational tool. Check out Happy Baby for preschoolers.

The application features:

Toddler Alphabet Learning Tool
Optional pronunciation of Alphabets

Listed below is the link to download and install through iTunes.

itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=324385183&mt=8

There are other applications also.

I started a thread with similar issues. My child [12 y/o going into 7th grade] has a sidekick. He got the sidekick after having a very cheap phone for two years that he kept up with and NEVER lost. As many people have said, these fons are too expensive to have a child not keep up with them, or worse, have them stolen. HOWEVER, he also has to maintain at least a 3.5 gpa [I'm considering making it a 3.8 this year] AND I got the fon on sale [$70 for what is usually a $200-$300 phone].

As a matter of fact, EVERYTHING my child gets is because I find it at a great deal. My child and I acquire items throughout the year, and not just around certain dates [back to school, Christmas, b-day etc.] because we end up saving more that way. There have been times my child gets one to two gifts at Christmas because he'd received [cheap] things all year [and the fact that I STRESS holidays are about giving and NOT receiving]. So he learns valuable lessons, he is very tight with a penny, and laughs at his friends when they brag about how much they spent. He will whip out a similar item, that he got at a small fraction of wat they paid. His friends are starting to catch on a little now, and they too "bargain shop."

SO, I said all of that to say, you probably need to set up some parameters or conditions of him recieving such a phone, include [academic] performance he must maintain, and contingent upon price at which you may purchase the item. I'd personally hate for my child to have some inflated [unwarranted] sense of entitlement, and buying it because "he'll be left out of the group" would definitely contribute to sense of entitlement.