What is a good age to get your child a mobile phone/cell phone?

I would say a reasonable age is about 10 or 11. They are starting to get a little more social and texting is the next best thing to seeing at school. Or parties (but I doubt kids that age go to parties). And if they are out walking or doing whatever you can contact them.

16 They don't need on until then, but when they start to drive their parents will need to have communication with them. If they are really responsible, get them a smartphone. I don't really think they're ready until then. It is funny looking at all the cell-phone addicts in our grade (I'm 13) who can't put those darn things away. (outside of class, of course!) At first, I was really mad that my parents wouldn't get me a cellphone, but now I can just be happy I can focus on other important things in my life.

I say never. Make them get a job and pay for it themselves. Kids are becoming way too spoiled just taking handouts from their parents.

I say it doesn't matter on age, but maturity of the child. Each child is different, but I would suggest placing a texting block on the cell phone. The texting can rack up a lot on the bill and an extra $20 a month for unlimited texting can add up really quickly. If you get a smartphone for your child, just let them know there's no texting...but they can use e-mail as that works better then some text messaging services.

All in one easy idea...it depends on the maturity of the kid and not age. Texting should be disabled as that the bill can grow pretty quickly without a plan. I do suggest a standard phone and not a smartphone for your kid until you see them as being more responsible.

I also say this from personal experience being an 18 year old.

Age shouldn't be the problem. The only issue I see is parents buying expensive ass phones for their little kids like iPhones or a high end droid. True, letting them have a taste of what technology can do is a good thing. But they're too young to be handling the responsibility of something like that, unless you don't mind your kid breaking/losing that expensive phone every few weeks/months.

When I was 11, my mom randomly a phone because it was dirt cheap when she already had one. Then she gave it to me as a second phone would be useless for her at that time. Though all I did back then with it was to jokingly send crude messages to my buddies and call my mom if I was going to come home really late. Yes, my mom trusts me a lot.

my wife died when they were 13 and 15 got them phones then so I could keep track while I was working

I say at 12, I got mine at around 11-12. At that age, kids should be just texting their friends and calling home. I agree, don't buy your kid a iPhone 4S or a Blackberry Bold 9900 because they're begging you for it. Start them off with a simple Nokia phone like the Nokia 2310 or a simple Samsung phone like the Samsung T219. Then as they get older buy them more complex phones until they can handle an iPhone.

I got my first phone when I was fourteen. My parents found that the appropriate age because they knew I was going to be getting into extra curricular activities and they wanted to keep track of me.

If you want them to be a techie and the coolest person in their class very early on. I remember having my first phone (hand me down from my Dad) when I was around 7 - 8 and all my friends used to think I was amazing lol.

LOL, i got my first mobile when i was in my 1st year, i.e. 2 year's ago(i am pursuing diploma), i was 16 back then, now i am 17 and in December i will turn 18.

It was

Nokia 2626. That was good, but my elder sister would give me.

Now my dad gave me a headache but with a good battery life a MX333