Do you ever think you absolutely need a cell phone?  If you don’t have one of your own, do you feel like you are the only one of your friends who doesn’t? Well, you are not alone!

Cell phone use among teens and pre-teens has been a hot topic in the news and even on New Moon Girls! Girls have a lot to say about when they should get a cell phone and how to use it appropriately.

I wasn’t allowed to get my own cell phone until I had my driver’s permit at 15. I thought I was the only person in school who did not have a cell phone, but I was wrong. Now, more and more girls are getting phones at younger ages, some even as young as 8 years old!

There are lots of good and bad things about having a cell phone at a young age.

Pros:
1. Your Parents can stay in touch with you at almost any time.
2. You can get in touch with your parents easily if there is a change of plans, or even an emergency.
3. You can keep in touch with your friends who have cell phones.
4. Having your own phone teaches you responsibility, like how to take care of it, not lose it and how to stay within your talking and texting minutes.

Cons:
1. Cell phones are expensive. You have to pay for calls, texting, games and even ringtones.
2. They are not as supervised, and your parents have the right to know everyone you are calling or texting.
3. They can be a big distraction from chores, family and even school work.

Wanting a cell phone just because everyone else has one may not be a very convincing argument when you’re begging your parents to let you have one. Having a cell phone is a big responsibility and not as glamorous as you might think.

New Moon member, Mystery Gal says that she really wants a cell phone, but her mom won’t let her. Check out the advice she got from other New Moon Girls.

Elita from California was wondering when other girls got their phones, this is the advice she got from others. Rachel from California said, “I wanted a cell phone really badly, and now that I have one its not a big deal.”

Voice your opinion, and take Sofia’s poll on what age is appropriate for girls to get a cell phone. You can also go to the Ask A Girl page and ask about or see advice from other girls on when they got their phones. Or, visit the Sister to Sister message board to discuss with older girls about having a cell phone.

Join the discussion! Do you want a cell phone, but your parents don’t think you are ready? Do you have a cell phone and find it very useful or not very useful? Have you learned a lot about responsibility by having a cell phone? Tell us in your comments below!

Emily
New Moon Intern

Sister to Sister Mentor: Alexa

We always want to do things that our parents won’t let us, and suddenly, when we’re around middle school-age, there are a ton of things that we really want to do. There are various intelligent, responsible ways to request your parents’ permission to do something- although, I must say, nothing is foolproof. Here are some tips:

1. Do it gradually

In ninth grade, I wanted to go to stores in the mall by myself like most other girls in my grade. Most girls went on their own, dropped off by parents. My mom said no to that immediately, but instead, she allowed me to take a friend with us to the mall. This was a pretty fair compromise, but of course, I still wanted more freedom. After I’d done that, my mom would let the friend and I go to a separate store while she stayed in the mall. Now, I’m allowed to be dropped off with a friend, just like those other girls. I was almost sixteen when this happened, and most girls I know were allowed to do this when they were about twelve. It’s always frustrating to not be allowed to do things that other people can- and sometimes you’ll feel lame for not being allowed- but be patient!

2. Prove your responsibility

If you want a pet or particularly special object that your parents won’t allow you to have, it’s often a case of responsibility. When my brother wanted video game consoles, like a GameCube, as a little kid, he would always ask for them repeatedly, which simply annoyed my parents. Doing little things like making your bed, clearing and setting the table, and helping out with siblings without being asked get noticed over time, and your parents will realize your responsibility might just be enough for that iPod or dog that you desperately want.

3. Present an eloquent argument.

Nagging and saying, “But everyone else can!” I’ve learned over time, will just annoy your parents and deter them from saying yes to your request. For some parents, really explaining why you want something can be key. For example, my friend Cate desperately wanted to do something that our friends could do, but her mom wouldn’t allow her to have one because she thought it would detract from her schoolwork. Cate made a point of showing her mom her high grades she achieved on a very busy schedule. The deciding factor, though, was the PowerPoint presentation Cate and I made and Cate presented to both her parents. The argument wasn’t only well-planned and eloquent, but the effort she put in showed how much she cared.

Hopefully these tips will help you convince your parents to do things in a polite, adult, and responsible way, but remember first and foremost: every parent has different rules, and you won’t always be allowed to do the same fun things as all of your friends. But from someone with some of the strictest parents in my group of friends, I’ve learned to be patient and have fun in my own ways with my other strictly-parented friends.

Best of luck,

Alexa