cnw64 : So pretty much what you're saying is that the kid would be more motivated to not do something bad/stupid when they can't contact someone with the phone that was taken away. I don't really see that as a negative. There's still public phones and other means. I mean, my class wasn't even as techno hungry as elementary students today, but I personally survived without a cell phone all the way through my senior year of high school. 

The parent obviously has the right to take the phone away, especially today. Not many, for some reason, are content with their desktops/laptops and need internet and everything on their phones. Give me music on a basic phone and I'm set. Smartphones are probably going to be the ONLY phones soon enough. It's just not necessary. The only reason taking the phone away even means anything is because of all that it can do now. (There's still email/facebook for actually communicating)

Even if the kid is miraculously paying their cell bill, the parent has the right. And as long as you're under 18, YOU are your parents' property, more or less. And it's no different than grounding them from video games if they bought their own game. 

Finally, who's the child to fight back? Like others have said, learn some respect. It's not like your parent is going to walk up to you, take your phone, say "hey, thanks," and walk away. THEN you might want to say something. lol

When you're a child, your parent's rights override yours. For good reason.

It is always a parent's right to take away anything they like from a child, except life's essentials and the love and care they deserve.

They should. But only If it's a good reason.

Parents must put limits sometimes... A phone is a big distraction for those who use it often.

Well if they're the ones who gave it to you I don't see why not.

I agree that in some cases parents should have the right to take their kids phones away as a punishment even if it's temporarily because they for one might have been the ones to get the plan and the phone from whatever company they chose and if it get's in the way of something like say school if the childs or older teenagers grades are slipping and seem to be spending to much time on it well then by all means it's not really mean for them to take it away because their just trying to help their kid & or kids concentrate on things that matter more importantly. However though these situations are reasonable enough I would strongly advice the adult to have at least two good reasons for doing this other wise it would be a waste of effort on their part when the child has done nothing wrong.

I agree. Even if the child paid for it because they are still the parent. Now its a little different from age if they have there own job there own money ok but if the parents give an allowance that is still counted as their money which in that case the cell phone should be taken. These days you rent aloud to beat your kids like back in the day. I use to have to get a switch from outside because I didn't come home be foe curfew. Anyway parents don't really have a lot of room to be parents because punishment is now look at as torture or abuse. Now some parents, yes, do take it really far but little punishments like taking a cell phone away? Come on not that serious.

  absolutely, I think that kids should not have cell phone to begin with.

I believe that cell phones are having a serious impact on children's social skills I have actually been witness to 4 kids in the same room for almost 2 hours and did not say a thing all they did was text. And when children speak to me now a-days it is apparent that verbal communication in there lives is severely lacking by the way they form there ideas into words.

Although I am somewhat biased (I am a teenager who has a cell phone), I will also say no. Cell phones are fast becoming a vital source of communication, information, and socialization. Most parents take away cell phones to get rid of the third aspect, socialization. The problem is that when they take away socialization, they take the other two with it. Teens can no longer communicate effectively if an urgent situation arises, they can no longer ask for help if a need of information arises. When cell phones are taken away, the teen is just stuck with no way to help themselves or others.

Although I will say that 9 times out of 10, the teen deserves it

I think it depends on a few factors. If the kid is paying for the phone themselves, then no parents shouldn't be allowed to take the phone. Now if the parents are paying for the bill and the kid did something and they are grounded and then take the phone away, that's different. That's just my opinion. I think it also depends on what kind of parent the adult is.

Yeah parents should really take away cell phones because the bill will be very high if they keep calling or texting every single minutes.

Movbouis1: Yeah, and if the kid is paying for it through having a job, then it wouldn't matter. I think that is the only time a parent shouldn't be allowed to take it. Otherwise, they can if they pay the bill and the kid gets grounded and they have to take it away.

I don't think most children need cell phones. We did without them as kids for generations, what's the sudden need for them for kids now? I have seen kids as young as 7 with their own cell phone (my roomates grandchilden) and they treated them with a very irresponsible fashion. They pranked called people, ran up the bill, and in general just wore the phone out in only 4 months to "need to replace it" status. So I have seen from preteens to a seven year old use cell phones, and it's shown me that kids don't need cell phones until at least 13 or older. Then, the parent is able to take it if they use it too much. (ranting spell done!)

manicman66 : Yeah dud I agree with you kids don't even need phone these days all the only reason they want it because a lot of people have it.

manicman666: I agree. Kids don't need cell phones. I wasn't even allowed to have my own landline until I was 16 and I had to pay for the bill. I was working at the time so it wasn't a big deal to me. Also, I've seen kids that young have cell phones too. They're way too young to use it responsibly. I have a cell phone in case I ever have car trouble or for an emergency and I use it as my home phone too. Kids don't need cell phones, they only want it because like Mobouis1: said others have it. I also think they want to grow up fast and feel like an adult, cause we all do that at a young age. When they get older they'll wish they didn't grow up so fast.

I am on the fence for this one, although I do lean farther towards "agree." When taking away a phone, it should be for a valid reason and only if the person taking it away is the person who is paying for it. Regardless of who is who, a parent only has the right to take an item away if s/he is the one who paid for it. Other punishments are available to invoke.

In today's society, it's a necessity to have a cell phone to call 911. However! I am not using this in my argument for being against taking away cellphones. Any cellphone that has the power to can call 911 - service or no service. A parent who feels that their child deserves to have their cell phone privileges revoked can take away the full service cell and hand over a working cellphone and charger for emergency purposes.

If the child bought and pays for the cellphone and needs punished, ground him or her from, say, going out anywhere. There are plenty of other punishments that can be given as consequences for bad behavior.

jasonZed : I HIGHLY agree with Parents (and even Teachers) taking Cell Phones away because you have to listen to your Parents (and Teachers) all the time and you have to follow the Rules because your Parents (and Teachers) have to protect you to be safe.

well it really depends. Parents should only be able to take away cell phones from their children only if they bought them the cell phone. i don't believe in taking away something that i spent my hard earned money on.