[quote=flu][quote=UCGal]My 9 year old son asks for an i-phone at least once a week. I answer with one word: No.

I see absolutely no reason for a 9 year old to have a smart phone. There are plenty of non-smart phones that have qwerty keypads (for texting) and mp3 players built in.

Why does a 8 year old need to text? What legitimate reason?

And yes, I text. I have a plan that gives me 250 texts/month. It’s cheaper than a data plan.[/quote]

You’re making this more difficult than you need to. Tell him, sure. As soon as you save $400+ for that iphone.[/quote]

Trust me – he’s heard that… He’s also heard that even if he saves for an i-phone, he needs the $$ for the service. (Same goes for his future car – needs to contribute towards gas/insurance/etc.)

He knows our stance – he’ll get “use” of a phone when and only when it makes it more convenient for us – the parents and bill payers… He only has one classmate with a phone (not a smart phone)… She uses it to call her dad when school’s out to find out if he’s picking her up right then, or if she should go to the library (across the street) to wait for him. That’s a situation where it’s for the convenience of the parent – and makes sense.