Firefly Mobile

About the Author: Rene Syler from GoodEnoughMother.com

Dear Rene,

What is going on with kids today? Or should I say parents?! Why does an 8-year-old need to have a cell phone?

My daughter Ellie continues to ask me for one because several of her classmates have phones. I just don’t understand, why would an 8-year-old need one?

When I ask Ellie why she needs a cell phone? Her response is to call her friends or use in case she’s in trouble.

I tell her if there’s an emergency the school will contact her father or myself and we’ll go and get her. Right now, Ellie’s day consists of a trip to school and then back home. As for her friends, she sees them at school and they all seem to want to know why Ellie does not have a phone.

I think eight is too young for a child to have a cell phone and I don’t understand why a parent would choose to buy their child one. Ellie loses her glasses on a regular basis, I can’t imagine how many cell phones she’ll lose if she had one.

Rene, what do you think? Should I buy my 8-year-old a cell phone and if not now, when’s a good age to give a child a cell phone?

Thanks,

Jennifer, Texas

Hi Jennifer:

I feel your pain, oh how I feel your pain.  Okay so here’s where I stand with regard to cell phones. Since it’s rare to find a pay phone on the street (I mean one that’s NOT in a museum) I do think they have become something of a necessary evil, and in some cases, not even that evil. So here’s what I would think about and do if I were you.

REMEMBER THIS WILL ACTUALLY BENEFIT YOU! Take a quick scan of some public places and you’ll see kids with a monkey or some other furry animal on their back. The tail is a cleverly disguised leash, for lack of a better term, allowing parents to keep them close by.

Now, I want you to think of a cell phone as a high tech version of that. You will be able to reach Ellie at all times. Granted that’s not many places given her relatively small social circle but it is something to think about. My 13-year-old son does not have a cell phone and I have to tell you it’s an enormous pain in MY backside. Why? Because unlike Ellie, he’s mobile. He goes home with friends and forgets to call and tell me where he is. If he had a cell, I could reach him and put my mind at ease.

CHECK OUT YOUR OPTIONS: If you’re worried about exorbitant cellphone bills (and you should be) carefully look at your options. A phone with prepaid minutes is one way to keep the cost down. This was the first phone we got Casey and I really liked it. Called the Firefly, it has dedicated Mom and Dad keys and the option to make emergency calls as well as a whole host of other features that keep mom and dad in control. They’re pretty reasonably priced too.

TALK TO ELLIE ABOUT HER COMPETITIVE BEHAVIOR: In my home, not to be mistaken for communist Russia, there needs to be a damn good reason for my kids to get what it is they are asking for. They need to be able to articulate it and at no time should the phrase, “Well, everyone has one” escape their lips. There’s no faster way to derail the train than for momma to hear that one.  Competitive behavior, in children and adults, is bad. It does nothing but serve to take your eye off the ball and start running someone else’s race instead of your own. If the goal is to do what works for you, then you need to follow the rules that are applicable to your life, not someone else’s.  Do Ellie a favor and starting teaching that life lesson early on.

So as you can see I am pro-cell phone for kids (with proper precautions, based on new information re: cell phone and cancer risk). HOWEVER, I agree with you, eight years old is too young.  There is not one waking moment in the day where you don’t know Ellie’s whereabouts. Then there’s the issue of responsibility. Cell phones are small and easy to lose but the difference between this and her glasses is that she needs her glasses to see. You could instill a “one and done” rule with the phone, if she loses it, she doesn’t get another one.

Good luck, mommy, with whatever you decide to do!

Do you have a question for Rene? She has an answer. Click here and fire away!

Whether you’re buying your child’s first cell or simply looking for a better way to manage your family’s calling plans, the options seem endless. But shopping for a family-friendly phone and plan doesn’t need to be a hassle. Here are four things to look for when shopping for a cell phone solution that puts you in control:

No long-term contracts

The phone that Evan uses today may not be the same phone he’ll want when those fast-approaching holidays roll around. Tweens and teens are notoriously fickle—so don’t get locked into a long-term plan that won’t expire until long after they’ve graduated high school.

While the “in” features and “must-have” phones your child wants will change, so will your family’s needs. Whether you decide to put your entire family on an easy-to-manage mobile phone plan or you need to add your 12-year-old’s first mobile phone, a “no long-term contract” plan gives you the flexibility to change the service as your family changes.

Flexible payment options

Just like you don’t want a long-term contract, you don’t want to be stuck with only one payment option either. At Firefly Mobile we offer several family calling plans to give you the flexibility you need:

• Pay as you go – This option allows parents to pay for minutes and texts in advance. It’s a smart choice for kids just learning to manage cell phone responsibility or kids who may need stricter limits on calls and texts.
• Monthly plan – With a lower per-minute and per-text rate than other options, Firefly Mobile’s monthly calling plans are the perfect way for parents to get America’s most reliable service at a budget-friendly price.
• Unlimited plan – This option gives your family all the calls and all the texts it wants at a competitive rate. Affordable. Reliable. Unlimited. It’s a cell phone solution the whole family will love.

Parental control features

As parents, we’re all concerned about keeping our kids safe. One way to ensure safety is to invest in cell phones designed to help you protect your children. For example, some kid-friendly mobile models, such as the glowPhone, offer controls that block all calls unless the caller’s number is already listed in the phone’s contact list. Other parental control features include the ability to block a child from adding or deleting numbers in the contact list.

When shopping for a cell phone for kids, look for parental control features that you don’t need an IT degree to figure out. Easy-to-use features allow you to quickly adjust controls when needed (for instance, when you need to restrict calls from a BFF after your daughter’s earned a particularly bad grade.)

Features vary depending on the phone, so always review phone specs to ensure you’re getting the level of parental controls you need. For more info about parental controls, check out the Firefly FAQ section.

Easy-to-manage account

You’re busy. From taxiing kids to afterschool practices to preparing for tomorrow’s presentation at work, you move at a 24/7 pace. So when it comes to finding the best cell phone plans for families, look for a company that offers an easy-to-manage online account. For example, a family cell phone plan should allow you to quickly and easily refill minutes, purchase accessories, and access customer support.

Finding the best calling plan for children and the rest of the family doesn’t need to be a hassle. Firefly Mobile, a leader in family-friendly cell phone solutions, offers the plans you’re looking for. Check out our affordable rates and kid- and parent-approved phones today.