Buying 13yo a cell phone

[txtxyeha]

For Christmas we're getting our son a cell phone. Anything I need to know before we pull the trigger on this?

 

[HatDaddy]

Are you buying one from Zach Morris?

 

[jmatt]

Set the rules about how and when he can use it up front.

Make sure it has unlimited texting.

Take it away from him when he has tests at school.

 

[HoustonHorn93]

One rule we have is that the phone stays downstairs past 9pm. The charging cable is in the kitchen.

 

[Ignatius]

Make sure you also give him the keys to the SUV at the same time yet continue to support MADD...

Just kidding...

 

[brntorng]

He drops it and breaks it, he replaces it. Suggest you get a style that you can get a protective case for to protect against drops.

And agree with the unlimited texting.

 

[chango]

HatDaddy, that was awesome. I read it the same way. Buying a 13 year old cell phone.

 

[utmck]

It has been said twice already, but the most important thing is unlimted texting

 

[HornBud]

I'm still befuddled that there aren't more options for parents to have more control over their kids phones. My biggest fear would be for the kid to download $500 worth of apps/games/other bs in a month, and I would like to have a way to put some sort control over that.

If you find one like that, let us know.

 

[notreally]

let me be the third.....

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[notreally]

and hornbud, you can limit it in the sense they cannot download anything from the internet if their data package is blocked on ATT. however, nothing stops them from doing the stupid ringtone scams.

which is one i forgot. MAKE SURE you have the discussion about the ringtone ads. they might say $1, but most are scams. make sure there is a rule there phone will be taken if you see one of those on the bill. have the child go through you for ringtones (and you can judge whether the source is worthy, or you can find one that is trusted).

 

[Perham1]

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[Perham1]

Here's another fear. While this may not rise to the horror of having a $500 phone bill there may be some parents disturbed should this happen to their child.

Last year, an 18-year-old female in Cincinnati committed suicide after a nude photo she text-messaged to her boyfriend was circulated to hundreds of students at seven area high schools.

 

[HornBud]

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[HornBud]

(forgot to add, when I first saw this thread title I thought, "...switched from a Motorola to a Prime-Co phone...")

 

[longyak]

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[Horn of Thunder]

With our son, we just purchased one of those "go" phones and purchased 1000 minutes for him. We told him he could do whatever, but texting counted as minutes - he was pretty judicious with them. Maybe you can use this as a gage to see how he will actually use the phone. You can refill the minutes at any time and the unused minutes are then rolled over into the next amount so they never expire.

 

[LdyLnghrn]

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[GHoward]

I think the main carriers have plans that let the parents control their childrens phone. ATT calls it "Smart Limits". From what I saw on the commerical, you can allocate minutes, turn off web, turn off text, basically disable it remotely, put it on timers so it disables at a certain time, block number, etc. All controlled through their website.

If you thin your kid will lose it, or mistreat it, I might suggest this phone: link
I have it, it cost me $35, it came unlocked. Pretty much just a phone.

 

[txtxyeha]

Appreciate the comments. Internet access was always a no-go.

While I don't think we'll go as far as cutting off texting, one thing we probably will do after reading this thread is eliminate sending/receiving pictures (probably easier said than done). Walked past a gaggle of girls yesterday at the grocery store hearing, "Does anyone want to see a picture of my boyfriend's ***?" Nice.

Also like the Go phone idea. My wife uses TMobile's pre-paid at a dime a minute with much satisfaction. Probably gift wrap a cheap phone with 1,000 minutes loaded then after that runs out he's on his own. After discovering that I didn't have enough money for groceries - halfway through checkout - when I moved into an appt off of Far West in my junior year, I think him starting to learn how to budget is a very good thing.

Also appreciate the phone rules. Always easier to set the rules at the beginning of the game than at halftime.

thanks again everyone.

 

[_e.]

I use t-mobile prepaid also. I don't use the phone that much, so it saves me a ton compared to when I paid $36/mo for 300 minutes - that was a huge waste. Anyway, the best deal on refill minutes I have found is callingmart. If you use that coupon code they offer now, you will be paying 9 cents/minute (if you buy 1000 minutes). No, I do not work for them.

 

[Smurfette]

I was going to suggest going the pre-paid route. The phones are cheap, so it's no biggie to replace if the kid loses it.

These kids text constantly though. I think you can get pre-paid w/ unlimited texts.

I'd say cut your loses and get a pre-paid so that you don't get slammed with a 900 dollar cell bill. (happened to a friend on mine-- ALL texts, too.)

 

[txtxyeha]

I ran across a banner ad on Amazon advertising something called a Peek. Their Peek Pronto model offers unlimited email/texting only (no voice) using the cellular network with a price range of $60 once then $15 - $20 per month or a once/all-in $300. The $300 price tag equates to a prepay-for-16-months,-get-forever-free offer that seems pretty sweet. As a parent I know I would be trading in the comfort of hearing his voice for just a text message that he's indeed ok/safe/sober, but the pricing and funtionality of the device (looks like a Blackberry) appears to be perfect for the job.

Aside from the enterprise risk (i.e., will this company be around next month/year), does this product sound like a good idea? I'm ok with my son giving me his 13yo-equivalent of a WTF?-look on 12/25 if I know that I'll he'll thank me after a month of usage.

 

[BigWill]

virgin is great. On sprint network.

You can buy phones starting at 14 bucks or so.

They have an unlimited voice plan for 50 bucks, add 5 for 1000 texts, or 10 bucks for unlimited texts.

A hell of a lot better deal than a lot of contract phones.