Phones for children going to high school

Exhortation

molerat wrote: »

I would dispute the use of that term. Legally maybe but in reality you have got to be kidding.:rotfl:

"Nail" and "head". My wife's students vary in age between eighteen and mid-forties and it's often the older ones that are the most bother for her. Some of the tales she comes home with regarding their antics have to be heard to be believed.

reisse03

4743hudsonj wrote: »

We would see the op back in a month when their kids run up excessive data charges!

Under no circumstances should a child be given a contract phone. Would you give a child your credit card and pin number to go shopping? Giving them a contract is exactly that, not only can they run up charges, but they can purchse apps on better phones and pay via the monthly bill.

erm unlimited data is included in his contract and i have a lock on it that doesnt allow him to download videos or games.

MyUserNamesTaken

reisse03 wrote: »

erm unlimited data is included in his contract and i have a lock on it that doesnt allow him to download videos or games.

You also forgot to mention that you are able to log into your t mobile account and see exactly what your son is doing with his phone. In other words, as a responsible parent, you're keeping an eye on his usage. By the way, you can also ask T-Mobile to block premium texts and international calls. My son also has a contract phone with T-Mobile (an additional line on my own account). It works out fine and I keep an eye on his usage. Also, he has an android phone, so uses the stats app to monitor his usage too (it even cuts him off when he gets to his limit). My son's on 200 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for £7.50 a month - came with a free android handset, too. He's nearly 15, mind - he wasn't too interested in getting a mobile up until last year. He spent a year on PAYG before asking to get a contract phone. The unlimited data for my son's phone is actually a 3gb FUP, but the good thing about T-Mobile is that they never charge you should you go over the FUP.

The way I see it is that you have to let them grow up and learn to be responsible. This way, he's learning whilst I am watching. Oh, and he can't buy apps, as he does not have a google checkout account.

reisse03

MyUserNamesTaken wrote: »

You also forgot to mention that you are able to log into your t mobile account and see exactly what your son is doing with his phone. In other words, as a responsible parent, you're keeping an eye on his usage. By the way, you can also ask T-Mobile to block premium texts and international calls. My son also has a contract phone with T-Mobile (an additional line on my own account). It works out fine and I keep an eye on his usage. Also, he has an android phone, so uses the stats app to monitor his usage too (it even cuts him off when he gets to his limit). My son's on 200 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for £7.50 a month - came with a free android handset, too. He's nearly 15, mind - he wasn't too interested in getting a mobile up until last year. He spent a year on PAYG before asking to get a contract phone. The unlimited data for my son's phone is actually a 3gb FUP, but the good thing about T-Mobile is that they never charge you should you go over the FUP.

The way I see it is that you have to let them grow up and learn to be responsible. This way, he's learning whilst I am watching. Oh, and he can't buy apps, as he does not have a google checkout account.

thanks for that. my son might be 12 but is very responsible and is aware of how much things cost and that i, as a single parent, work hard to afford.

he always checks how many minutes he has left before he makes any calls.
i once asked him what he wanted for christmas and he said ' i dont need anything, ive got everything i need'

Not every child is a spoiled brat

elfen

I'm at Soton Solent Uni, and we're asked to put our phones on silent. If you don't, there are usually glares from other students and lecturers. I'm 27, I can manage having mine on silent, it won't kill me and if it's important they'd leave a message.

But back to the topic in hand. OP, could you get them cheap PAYG phones to start with, then in the next couple of years see how they behave/usual usage and then see about contracts, not straight onto contract.