Do 12 year old girls NEED cell phones?

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They don't need a cell phone, but try to be sympathetic it's an important time in her life socially. While you don't want to spoil her, indulging a few choice luxuries is never a bad thing. Here's what you can do, tell her she can get a moderately nice cell phone ((I don't mean go bankrupt getting an iphone)) if she gets all A's or something like that. After she gets the phone tell her it is her responsibility and if she breaks or loses it she'll have to work for a new one all over again.

As for Jsmom, that's not shocking, but cell phones are not to blame. As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children right from wrong, blaming technology for corrupting this generation is nothing more than a flimsy excuse some parents make. While the cell phone may have made it easier for the girl to contact this boy, I assure you she'd be doing the same thing if she never touched a one in her life.

I never blamed technology.



They thought they could trust her. She comes off as very innocent. They were wrong and have learned from their mistake. Now the cell phone gets checking in every time she comes to stay with her dad, and it is checked regularly for inappropriate texting. She still doesn't need one...no 12 year old girl does.



I never bought into the mindset that because everyone has X, then I should have X, too.

"Mom, all the girls are dressing like Brittany Spears!" "Mom, all my friends are allowed to go to the mall by themselves!" "Mom, all of my friends have cell phones with cameras and texting options." "Mom, all my friends wear makeup at the age of X!"

There is a huge problem with our youth today because parents give into this kind of stuff, cell phones included. There is a time and place for makeup, malls, cell phones and skimpy clothes, but it's not at the age of 12.

It's the duty of the parent to decide where to draw the line, indulge this, refuse that. True, you may not have been sensitive to the pressure of fitting in, being one with the crowd but maybe your child will. To deny every request because you don't understand the fascination will do nothing but drive a wedge between mother and daughter. Say no to skimpy clothing, but yes to a little bit ((I did say a little)) of make-up. Trust her enough to let her go to the mall with friends for an hour or two to gain some Independence, but ask to see what she bought when she comes home. It's all about compromise.

At twelve kids are starting to recognise their own individuality, and by trying too hard to isolate them from the popular trends you may inadvertently push them to it.

circumstances are different in every household........in mine, we decided that because there aren't any places to hang out in the community other than a friends house~ well a cell phone isn't necessary............both my boys HATE the mall, so needing one there doesn't really matter.
we just let our 13 year old get a cell phone....but only because of this circumstance~ he gets off the bus at 2:55. he then has to pick his sister up at 3:00. no time to go home before he gets his sister.....he panicked the day that i picked up his sister early & she wasn't at school ! he waited and waited and couldn't figure out where she was. when he got home, i wasn't there with her because i had to run out to the store really quick.......oh boy, what a mess ! !!
i apologized repeatedly to him, and then decided that a cell phone would be a comfort to him~ that he'd be able to check his cell phone and see if someone else has picked up his sister.