At what age can a child reasonably be given a mobile phone?

pulliptears

Cant recall with DS, but DD is 12 now and has one. She had it around 9 or 10 but didn't really use it so had a simple PAYG contract.

She moved up to high school this year and leaves the school premises for lunch to go to her Nana's nearby so we felt easier in the knowledge that she could contact Nan should there be any problems etc. We put her on to T Mobile's Solo 15 contract because she has unlimited texts and something like 300 minutes. When she has used the minutes there isn't an option to carry on calling and run up a bill.

tiamai_d

DS1 (8) got one for Christmas last year (cheap £10 credit £10 phone PAYG number). He takes it to his friends house so I can call him when it's time to come home (or he can check the time) and when he goes to stay over night with his gran etc.

Think I have topped it up once when we were on holiday for him. He mainly uses to camera on plays lady bloody gaga over and over again. :rolleyes:
H
e has taken good care of it which surprised me.

Errata

I think that when a child starts 'big school' they start to learn to be independent and responsible (with luck) and part of this is having a mobile and using it like an adult (with luck).
Sensible usage needs to be taught by a parent and monitored by a parent, which means any risks and miisuse can be discussed as and when without nuclear war breaking out (with luck).

coco1980

i was considering buying 9 year old son one for xmas as hes been asking for few years. as a test my mum gave him her old one, he lost it within the week. so i'll be waiting a bit longer lol

Indie_Kid

When my sister was 9, she asked for a mobile phone and got told no. She then got one for Christmas, as did I - I'd just started secondary school then.

After 9 months I was given my brother's old one. (this was when they were basic black & white ones)

I will never understand why a child around the age of 9 needs a mobile phone. When I was that age and went to the park with a friend, we were just given 2 10ps to use to phone her mum if we needed to.

kindofagilr

barnaby-bear wrote: »

I think you do have to recognise society assumes mobiles though - few pay phones and whereas a bus driver might have been concerned for a stranded kiddy in a rural area a few years back everyone assumes they'll have mum and dad on the end of the mobile....

The idea of 500min unlimited tariffs and features and frequent use horrifies me. For children the scientific and governmental safety advise is very clear - minimal usage - mimimal payg and the most basic low SAR phone should cover that.

Yes I do agree with that, I cant even remember the last time I saw a payphone! I dont think BT should be taking them away

jess1974

My 2 boys age 11 and 12 both have phones, they are not allowed to take them to school, so they use them to ring me to ask what time is dinner etc if they're out on their bikes...

I like being able to ring them to ask where they are, it gives me peace of mind....

blackcoffee

I cant forsee mine ever needing one but my children are 9,7 & 2. at the moment I take them and pick them up from primary school and they have arranged play dates with friends, where by transport is also arranged, we live on a cul de sac and they know the boundarys.


Secondary school ...they will if they go to comp be using the bus, if they go private I will be taking them and picking them up. I hope by that time they will be able to tell the time, by using thier watches .... slowly getting thier now !!

At the minute i dont see why they would need one ? none of thier friends have them, however some of the nieghbours children do. I dont think I will need to ring them to ask them where they are, as for now I know where they are.


the thought of letting my son go to the co-op here on his own terrifies me !!! we have the walkie talkies I guess when that arises.

In France we use motorola walkie talkies, my son was allowed to buy the morning baguette and croissants, and a few times rode his bike around the camp site fishing lake.

elljay20

in my opinion any child that has independance should have a mobile. for my daughter it will be a samsung with the features mentioned here.

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-survive-an-emergency-with-your-phone

it's not about morals or ages for me. If a child is seven and walks to school alone for example then i think they should have a phone. It's not about having calls texts etc it's about safety.

If my daughter walked to school alone she would have one but it is my job as a parent to teach her how to use it as i would like. No way would i be paying for her to use it for texting chatting etc. I just think we need to educate our children more that having a phone can be about more than socialising with friends!

Alias_Omega

Giving mobile phones to kids should not cost you alot.

You can go with the T-Mobile Solo Fixed £15 per month deals with basically is what is says.

For your £15 you get -

350 minutes to any uk mobile, landline
unlimited texts

If you want to call anyone outside of the package above, you need to credit the phone, its 1/2 contract, 1/2 PAYG. So ringing 0870,0800 etc will come from the PAYG side.

The contract is a 30 day deal, so easy to cancel. There are £10 deals with are less minutes, ideal to give to your little one as £10 can go within a week with these teenagers.

Buy a cheap handset, £10 a month and your away..

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-phones/sim-card/pay-monthly/