What age do kids get mobile phones ?

Peakma

I'm just discussing what to get for my sons up coming b'day , he'l be 8, my partner wants to get him a mobile phone ( which according to him,is what he really wants- but I know he just wants a new gadget in the house to play with!) I personally think it's ridiculous, he doesn't need a phone,he doesn't go out alone,it would only be used for games,.and my partners already talked me into buying him a video camera, gameboy sp and a palm-which admittedly he loved.for previous presents.
I don't think mobiles are good for kids brains,and would hate to damage him in anyway.So just wondering what age other kids get there own mobiles? I know he will mention this to him,and he'll decide he really wants one,then I'll get turned into the mean one for being the sensible one.
Or any other good suggestions,for a rather mature sensible young man(who has everything!!) he's into Dr.Who at mo.

djdido2

hi

i was in the same situation with my daughter last xmas when she was 9. i told her that she would lose it or it would get stolen and that she's have to do chores in order to gain credit for the phone. i insisted she didnt get one till she was older as it would most prob get lost or stolen and she eventually got one as i gave in on the last minute.

it is broken beyond repair now as she hasnt looked after it but they are so very cheap now. it is good for games and texting buddies and his mates have all probably got one. good for emergencies too. look for a really cheap one and he will be all smiles.

hth

djdido

Sallys_Savings

I brought all of my children mobile phones the christmas after starting senior school.
I personally felt that this was the best time as they began going out more and associating with children that I hadn't met before. (they had always stayed in a close group of friends from playschool to end of Juniors so we knew all parents and kids etc.) They were also walking back and forth to school on their own.

jo1967

Again I had the same dilema last xmas.

My son was 11 & wanted a mobile more than anything but was looking as £60-80 and I could not get my head around that price for an 11 year old as my new phone was only £45!

We compromised - I chose the phone, a respectable little phone from Virgin about £20 with fee sim & £15 credit!!! The deal was show me you can look after it, use credit wisely & you can update it in a year. He has been great with it & saves pocket money for top ups.

Out of interest my hubby & I got a new phone at the same time so researched cheapest networks etc (all PAYG) we chose virgin, good rates for network users & £5 top up - managable for son.

Not sure if this will help but if you are still not happy I bet you could push the Dr Who stuff, there will be loads of it around by xmas :rotfl:

sarahlouise210

I honestly do not see the point of a child of 8 having a mobile phone unless you just see it as a toy...as you have said he does not go out alone so no need for emergencies. TBH it is going to be hard to top the previous presents ..a video camera:eek: The trouble with kids presents these days is that we buy them more and more so as they miss out on their childhood when they could enjoy playing..they forget how to play games that were intended for their age. Another problem with buying things for them too young is by the time they are actually old enough for the items you have already bought them..and then there is nothing left to buy!I myself have made this mistake with my eldest and do not intend to do it again with my youngest (10 year age gap!). If you do end up getting the phone then you could get him a Dr Who ringtone!

skylineboy2002

my younger brother has an old (well ish) 6230 for emergency's = eg we can phone him..


think the novelty worn off now, we have to force him to take it out with him if he goes out playing..

seven-day-weekend

I certainly don't thin an eight-year-old needs a mobile phone.

dlb

All my kids had mobile`s last xmas, but we got then 2nd hand at a tenner each.
They dont go out much on there own and we knew the novelty would wear off, they only all wanted them as their friends did.
We now have 3 spare phone in case ours act up, and when they do decide they want one again they will use those ones until they can prove to me they are responsible enough for one of the newer type phones.
Just a idea if you do decide to get your child one, ask on freecycle if anyone has one they no longer want, i know in our area quite a few have been on lately, then it wouldnt cost you anything.

viktory

My boy is 15 and doesn't have a mobile (his choice). He had two and lost both. He manages perfectly well without one. I really don't think an 8 year old needs a mobile, it is putting him at risk from mugging etc.

How about buying him the Dr Who DVD boxed set?

dlb

Or the doctor who screwdriver thingy, little boy we know has one and he loves it.

ailuro2

buy him those two way radio things that cover a 2 kilometre range.
Free to use and he can use it to play with aswell as be called in from playing outside when it's teatime.