My neighbours daughter got a new iphone 4S for her 7th birthday

[ViciousXUSMC]

Horrible parents, they should have known to get her a Galaxy S2 or another good phone.

[Voodooi]

Horrible parents, they should have known to get her a Galaxy S2 or another good phone.

Hahaha! (awesome reply)

Exactly!

[MAA83]

Would it be unreasonable for a 7 year old have a game console, portable gaming device, a cheap point-and-shoot digital camera, a cheap feature phone or a some sort of touchscreen MP3 player? "

I think so.

Besides, what could a 2nd grader possibly need a cell phone for? I wanted toys in second grade, not a MicroTAC.

I'm with the other oldies, I didn't get a cellphone till 2001, my first year in college, which I paid for myself. Obviously things have changed, they're cheaper, they do more. But the only reason a kid NEEDS a mobile phone is to check in with your parents so they can make sure you weren't kidnapped or whatnot on the way to school, or where you are.

[hizzaah]

I think it depends on the kid also.. There's a difference between a spoiled brat that doesn't deserve it and a kid who's respectful, helps out and is a good student. I was very very mature as a young kid. My mom didn't have means to provide me with something like a phone, but I was definitely responsible enough to have one. I dont know if I'd buy my kid a phone until middle school. Thats only if they're active (sports, music, clubs, etc). Otherwise I could see them having something like an iPad at an early age. Throw it in an otterbox and it's good to go. My neighbor got her kid one and it has some great apps for young kids. Her daughter is waaay ahead of others her age and I think the functionality and variety the iPad provides has a lot to do with it. Sooner or later kids are going to just be expected to know about computers/tablets/etc. it's the way the world is advancing..

Ps: I kinda took a few steps down on the maturity scale as I got into college though I pay my own phone bill though so I'll be damned if I don't have a smartphone lol.. my twin brother was/is a disaster though. I wouldn't trust him with a box of lawn clippings..

[Qing Dao]

There is no reason to give a seven year old an iPhone 4S. The parents are complete dingdongs.

[HTWingNut]

I dunno. My kids have netbooks, and they're only 3 and 4, and they've been great educational tools. But I guess I wouldn't leave them in their hands to carry around, and manage on their own, lol.

I guess I don't see an iPhone 4s as any worse than having a Nintendo DS, or other gaming device that can do a lot of the same things. It lets them browse the web, check email, and as others have said GPS tracking. 4s is what, like $199 with a plan? Sometimes much cheaper. That's not horrible. Depends on if the kid is responsible enough.

I personally carry around whatever was the free phone from Verizon, no data plan.

[too456]

I got my first phone at 11 (SE K530i), stuck with that until 13, got a SE G705, got a SE Xperia Arc at 15, then my mother liked it so much she swapped the Arc with her Optimus 3D 2 weeks ago

Back when I had the SE K530i/G705, it was just used for calls and SMS. Now, with Android and a 12GB data plan, the possibilities have expanded by much more

As for computers, first computer was back in 2006 (10 years old), first laptop was 2010 (14 years). But really, most of the things I got were due to necessity such as school. If school didn't require it, I wouldn't have gotten it.

[paradigm]

Well while we are sharing our stories of yore

My first phone was the nokia 7650 (briefly) at the age of 19 followed immediately with a SE t610 that I kept for yonks (loved that phone)

Infact the only phones that have stayed with me over or equal to a period of 3 yrs are
T610
Motorolla c500
iPhone 3GS

[masterchef341]

4s is what, like $199 with a plan? Sometimes much cheaper.

That plan is well over $1000

[Mechanized Menace]

I have an even more ridiculous story to share on this topic! My 3 year old Nephew has an iPad first gen that his father gave him when upgraded to an iPad 2. Watches his toons on it, plays educational games, and reads interactive stories on it. He even runs around asking where his iPad is all the time, but my Brother in law can afford it. He is the COO of a major Employer looking for employee's company.

Me and my buddies all think it's a little ridiculous for a 3 year old to have one, but my nephew is very smart and doesn't try to destroy it.

Horrible parents, they should have known to get her a Galaxy S2 or another good phone.

LMAO! Jokes!