I am not so sure about this...My nine year old stepson was sent home with a cell phone from his mother today. I asked him why he was given a cell phone and he said his mother said she thought he was mature enough...I cant even get him to routinely pick up his wet towels off the floor after a shower. I was so irritated when I saw it today. Its not like he goes any where alone and I see it as a way to constantly keep tabs of what we are doing. I exlained to him that if I catch him calling his mother to cry about something he doesnt like ie if he is in trouble, I will take the phone away.