Would you let an 8yr old have a PAYG Phone?

pulliptears

emsywoo123 wrote: »

This was done 4 months ago https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3925143

It's done to death several times a year isn't it? Ultimately if the parent feels that the child will legitimately use the phone and is mature enough for the responsibility that comes with one then why not.

It's all well and good folk jumping up and down on here with "ITS TOO YOUNG!!!" when they no nothing of the maturity of OP's child at all.

gingin_2

The only thing that would worry me is text speak. I don't know if an 8 year old will text her friends but just make sure she doesn't think it's okay to use text language in her written work and that she can distinguish between the two.

emsywoo123

pulliptears wrote: »

It's done to death several times a year isn't it? Ultimately if the parent feels that the child will legitimately use the phone and is mature enough for the responsibility that comes with one then why not.

It's all well and good folk jumping up and down on here with "ITS TOO YOUNG!!!" when they no nothing of the maturity of OP's child at all.

OMG this should be a sticky

pulliptears

gingin wrote: »

The only thing that would worry me is text speak. I don't know if an 8 year old will text her friends but just make sure she doesn't think it's okay to use text language in her written work and that she can distinguish between the two.

My DD (15) tells her Nan off for using text speak, you'd be surprised how many children DONT use it actually. Certainly none of DD's friends would dream of using it between themselves, its pretty widely detested with them.

Kimberley82

spendaholic66 wrote: »

Why would an 8 year old need a phone? Surely they don't go out on their own so wouldn't need to call for lifts or in case of potential problems? If anything happened at school it's the schools responsibility to make sure a parent is contacted.

8 years old is so young to even consider such a gadget. Man alive at 8 I unwrapped a tiny tears doll on christmas day and was over the moon!

my 8 year old goes out to play with out a parent. I drop her off for 2 hours at boxing 2 times a week etc plus stage school

tumbletots

Am definitely in the too young camp at 8. I have a 9 year old so know how difficult it is to keep saying no but I am definitely holdng out until he starts big school at 11. Why oh why do kids want to grow up so quickly!

By the way that is just my own personal opinion! They are still babies at 8 aren't they?

Lotus-eater

My DD (almost 9) has been asking for one for several years and I still have absolutely no intention of getting her one till she needs it.

Luckily at her school almost none of her friends have one, although 2 sisters do each have an iphone...... at 8! I ask you.

I have a big problem with kids using mobile phones as their brains are still developing and no one really knows what will happen when they all grow up. Not a chance I'm willing to take.

Someone saw my mobile the other day and remarked that they hadn't seen one of those outside a museum for years LOL.

Northern_Princess

My daughter has had a mobile since she was 7/8 years of age. I see no problem with it. Hers started off a PAYG but we got her a contract when she was 12 (obviously in our name). It saves our house phone being the hotline to the world of girly gossip and I can contact her at any time if she's out. It also means she gets a yearly upgrade.

pawsies

raven83 wrote: »

My DD8 had a friend round the other week and when she saw I had a Facebook account asked me if I would add her!!!! I just don't think it is appropriate at all especially as I like to have a laugh on it and can have quite adult themed conversations

My oldest even remarked that some of her school pals have better phones than I do and I have a Blackberry too, it is a bit sickening tbh.

Wow 8 daughters? You must be a superhero!

onlyroz

I think the time to get a child a phone is when they start going out on their own. I guess this varies depending on what sort of community you live in, but round here I would think that would be approx age 11.

My son (age 7) has an iPod touch, and he loves it - but I haven't given him access to the internet and I control which apps/music/video he has access to.

I do also occasionally let my daughter (age 3) play Peppa Pig on my phone, under supervision, and I always switch it to airplane mode first.