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

lucie1973

my 11 year old daughter is not allowed to go out unless she has her mobile with her fully charged, i bought her it for my own peace of mind as i worry a lot.

penelopedee_2

My 12 year old has a basic Tesco one PAYG, and only used about £4 in the 2 months he's had it. We live out in the sticks so he is allowed to carry it in his school bag but knows it will be confiscated if he takes it out at school. I work pt so I like to think I can contact him if the traffic is bad and I'm running late to pick him up. He doesn't really use it as a phone though, mainly for listening to music on or taking photos.

He had a second hand one previously to that but he lost it. I can see this one being lost soon too as he has already misplaced the charger.

snowmaid

My 11 year old has it and has to have it with him at all times when he is out. He phones us when he gets to school to let us know he is there. He has a pay as you go. I have a family plan which allows him to phone 3 numbers free of charge, which is mine, his dad's, his sister. Any other calls he wants to make he pays for out of his pocket money. Dad usually puts a tenner on it for him now and again.

Sidekick2

kindofagilr wrote: »

I personally dont think children should have mobiles.

I didnt get one till I was 17, I know times are different now and evey tom !!!!!! and harry seems to have one

But I know I wouldnt be buying my 10 year old one for example

i agree with this comment.
children have no need for a mobile. it's sad seeing 9 year olds running around the town with mobiles. What has happened to the youth? :-(

juliescot

Sidekick2 wrote: »

i agree with this comment.
children have no need for a mobile. it's sad seeing 9 year olds running around the town with mobiles. What has happened to the youth? :-(

Not sure why anyone would think it sad.

There are many people who do not "need" a mobile but there are lots of people who enjoy the benefits it brings.
Children are no different

elljay20

Sidekick2 wrote: »

i agree with this comment.
children have no need for a mobile. it's sad seeing 9 year olds running around the town with mobiles. What has happened to the youth? :-(

erm, peodophiles? bullies, child trafficers, alcoholics, drug addicts........


we live in a different world, one full of danger and ill intenet. mobiles can have a big safety role. i used to play out on my bike till dark without my mother freaking out, i won't let my child out of my sight!!!!!! when i do, she'll have a phone for safety purposes only and will understand how to use it.

ixwood

elljay20 wrote: »

erm, peodophiles? bullies, child trafficers, alcoholics, drug addicts........


we live in a different world, one full of danger and ill intenet. mobiles can have a big safety role. i used to play out on my bike till dark without my mother freaking out, i won't let my child out of my sight!!!!!! when i do, she'll have a phone for safety purposes only and will understand how to use it.

All those things existed when you're growing up. We just never used to hear about the occasional bad things then. Now it's all over the newspapers constantly, making people paranoid.

Curious_George_2

mirrorimage0 wrote: »

you will get so many different opinions on here, a saying about can of worms being opened comes to mind lol. x

i will be giving my son a mobile phone as he starts senior school so that i he can contact mo or i can contact him when necessary as he will be having longish bus journeys to contend with and it will give me peace of mind although he has been asking for the past two yrs to have one he is ten this month but only in yr 5 so has another ful school yr after this one to wait but half his friends already have them

this is pretty much what i was going to post,
my DD is 9 1/2 and has been asking for a phone for some time now,
ive had to stop her dad buying her one for at least the last 2 birthdays,

ive now said she can have one when she starts senior school as its about a 15 minute bus ride away, she has never been out on her own before and isnt very street savvy, so the mobile will be for my peace of mind as much as its for her,
there will be rules to go with it though.

clairehi

When they start to play out on their own, would be my answer.

My DSs (10 and 7) have not been given a phone of their own but I have a PAYG mobile in a drawer which I give them when they go out to play. I can ring them to check they are ok or call them in for dinner etc. They can call home if someone gets hurt etc (not happened yet through)
They do not use the phone to call their mates etc, I doubt that they know each others numbers, but maybe thats just boys. The phone gets handed back when they come in.

Personally I never go anywhere without my mobile in case of emergencies. Yes, we all coped without them in the *old days* but I don't see the point in being a Luddite about it, if the technology is there why not use it.

lynnexxxo

I honestly can't see what the problem i with kids having mobiles . Sure we never had then when we were kids, we never had nintendo ds's, wii, playstations, videos, dvds, computers (unless you count an acorn electron), mp3 players and a whole host of other things. You can bet if they were available we would have all wanted them.

My five year old has my old mobile. He thinks he's cool listen to songs i've bluetoothed onto it and taking photos. Whats the harm?