I recall a gentleman coming into the cell phone store I was managing a few days before Christmas one year.  He wanted to get his daughter a new cell phone for Christmas as he felt hers was outdated.  We discussed her needs and decided on a top of the line Motorola with camera.  The father wanted to be assured that if his daughter was unhappy with his selection, the phone could be returned or exchanged, I guaranteed him it could within 30-days of purchase.  Fast forward to the day after Christmas, my customer returned with his daughter, cell phone in hand.  Much to my surprise, his daughter was 8-years-old.  This child proceeded to tell me that she wanted a “better” phone than the one her father selected.  All the while, dad is smiling and in agreeance with her request.  I have to admit, I found it a bit difficult keeping a smile on my face while this young person ran corner to corner of the store pointing to different phones and demanding the best.  To me it was reminiscent of Veronica Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory “Daddy, I want a squirrel, and I want it now!”.  Of course, daddy smiles and does his best to make his little girl happy.  She did eventually select a phone, not necessarily what I would consider top of the line, but she was happy with the look and feel, after all, she was the customer and she and her father were happy.

 

Was she too young to have a cell phone?

 I believe it is dependent on her life circumstance.  In retrospect, I began to think of the reasons why a child this young would need a cell phone.  Many scenarios crossed my mind.  I imagined her being the child of a broken marriage that may not have been an amicable split.  Perhaps the only way dad could talk to her was by providing her with a personal phone to keep in touch.  Maybe she was in school and child care most of the time and the parent’s though it important that she be able to reach them, and them her.  Did she spend time away from the family in extracurricular activities?  A cell phone is a great tool for a child to be able to contact someone to pick them up after practice.  Could the family have chosen to eliminate their home landline and instead give all members of the family cell phones?  This is a common practice in many households.  Regardless of the family’s reasons, they felt it necessary for their 8-year-old to carry her own phone. 

 

A common discussion I had with customers was “at what age is it appropriate for a child to have a cell phone?” 

 

My advice would be to consider the following:

 

1.      Is your child independently away from adults frequently?

 

2.      Does your child require a phone to keep in contact with their family?

 

3.      Do you have a landline in your home accessible to your child?

 

4.      Would you as the parent, feel your child is safer having one?

 

If any of these scenarios apply to your child’s situation, perhaps a cell phone would be the right choice. 

 

The next question/concern many parents would have is “what is the least expensive way to get a cell phone for my child?” and/or “I do not want to sign a contract for this service as it may only be temporary for my child”. 

 

There are many options available for parents seeking cell phone service for their children.

 

1.         If the parent is already on a plan, most companies will add an additional line, sharing the minutes, promotions and features that are attached to the main line.  This can be a good option but one must consider the charges their child could create due to using more minutes than allotted, downloading data or using text messaging when charged per message.  Remember, the minutes are shared, if you have 1,000 minutes and your child uses 900 of them, you will only have 100 minutes remaining for your own use and you will be charged for every minute of airtime over your package minutes.  I have seen distraught parents come in with bills from several hundred dollars to a thousand or more due to excessive use, downloading of data and one of the most common problems, excessive text messaging.  Should you choose to add your child to your own plan, it is important that you monitor your child’s usage closely to avoid large, unexpected charges.

 

2.         Pre-paid cell phone service may be an option for limited, restricted use.  Pre-paid plans can be a great option, however, with high per minute charges and lack of features or promotions available, can be an expensive choice.  Most pre-paid plans do not have free nights and weekends or mobile to mobile calling, these are valuable features that can save a lot of money. 

 

3.        Find a mainstream plan without a contract.  Very few options are available to do this.  There are web based companies that match people getting out of their contract with people willing to take over a contract. Celltradeusa and Cellswapper are companies that provide this service.  If you are lucky enough to find one of these plans with just a month or so remaining on the contract, you can assume the contract from the previous owner and any promotions extended on the plan will remain with it.  You will need to consent to a credit check from the provider and you could be required to pay a large deposit if your credit is less than perfect.   You will be required to complete the contract time or pay an early termination fee should you choose to cancel after assuming the contract.

 

4.         Use a company that specializes in no contract cell phone plans from major carriers such as AT&T, Alltel, Sprint, Unicel or Verizon.  There is only one company I am aware of that does this on a month-to-month basis and does not charge activation fees or termination fees.  WirelessWithout.com does not run credit checks and has the same plans available that you would find as if you were signing a contract, promotions included on many of them. 

 Should you decide to get a call phone for your child, do your homework.  If the cell phone is a luxury and not a necessity, you may want to avoid a contract.  If your child abuses his or her privilege to have a phone, canceling a contract can be a very expensive out. 

Barbara has been a professional in the cell phone industry for many years.

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