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

*Louise*

Lucee wrote: »

Hi

I'm sure this subject has been discussed many times before and is potentially explosive! and for that I apologise but I would really like some other peoples opinions, my friends/family think I'm being a bit harsh and in this day and age she is probably one of the oldest not to get a phone yet.

My daughter who will be 8 shortly would like a cheap phone for Christmas, she seems to have her heart set on one, she has friends that already have one and wants to be like them.

I am torn, my head is telling me not to get her one yet she is far too young but my heart is telling me different!

If I was to get her one, it would definitely only be a cheap phone and I wouldn't be buying any kind of smart phone. It would be calls/texts/games only.

My head is winning this fight at the moment - she's too young, but I know that I will feel horrible when she realises that she won't be getting one.

Am I being too harsh? and is it really acceptable these days for young children to have mobile phones?

TIA

L x

When it comes to being a responsible parent, nine times out of ten you are probably best to go with what your head is telling you.

Don't doubt yourself, and don't let anyone else tell you you are wrong/mean/horrible etc. You are just being sensible.

Speak to her sooner rather than later about your decision, and explain your resaons why and also when you may consider letting her have one.

My DS got a mobile the christmas before he went to high school (no internet though), and my younger two will be the same. My sister is also having the same rule for her kids so everyone in the family is the same

raven83

pawsies wrote: »

Wow 8 daughters? You must be a superhero!

Oh my I don't think I could cope with 8 girls, think I would end up bald, through pulling my hair out:eek::rotfl:

pawsies

raven83 wrote: »

Oh my I don't think I could cope with 8 girls, think I would end up bald, through pulling my hair out:eek::rotfl:

eh? who's DD8?

Lotus-eater

raven83 wrote: »

Oh my I don't think I could cope with 8 girls, think I would end up bald, through pulling my hair out:eek::rotfl:

You've been reading far too much 50 shades stuff.

preciousillusions

No.

I saw a boy that seemed to be about 8 or 9 on the train the other day with a mobile phone. His eyes were glued to the thing, tapping away while his family conversed around him. I said to my friend "why on earth does a kid that age need a mobile phone?!" It made me pretty sad tbh, and I am only 25 so it's not like I don't get that young people want all the latest stuff, but it just seems so unnecessary at that age, to be attached to a piece of technology.

That said I am not a mother so I don't know how hard it would be to say no to something like that, especially if the child's friends all have phones already (which would worry/perplex me regardless but that's besides the point, popular culture is a runaway train.)

mazza111

preciousillusions wrote: »

No.

I saw a boy that seemed to be about 8 or 9 on the train the other day with a mobile phone. His eyes were glued to the thing, tapping away while his family conversed around him. I said to my friend "why on earth does a kid that age need a mobile phone?!" It made me pretty sad tbh, and I am only 25 so it's not like I don't get that young people want all the latest stuff, but it just seems so unnecessary at that age, to be attached to a piece of technology.

That said I am not a mother so I don't know how hard it would be to say no to something like that, especially if the child's friends all have phones already (which would worry/perplex me regardless but that's besides the point, popular culture is a runaway train.)

Would you have felt the same if he had been playing with a game boy or...lol I'm so old, I can't remember what the other ones are called :rotfl: The kid was probably just playing games on the phone. It may not even have been his phone, his mum might have given him it to keep him quiet on the journey. I certainly used to hand my phone over to the little monsters to play games on a journey too
Anything to keep them quiet.

To the OP. Go with your own instincts. I personally see no problem with it as long as you're also teaching them responsibility with it They will probably play with the games more than they will use the phone though

Lucee

Thanks all for your replies!

Its difficult, she's quite responsible for her age but I'm going to go with my head on this one. I will speak to her sooner and explain my decision so that hopefully she won't feel the disappointment too much on Christmas Day.

I also wouldn't want to set a precedent as there is no way I can see my son being responsible enough at 8.

She is never in a position where she would need a mobile, she isn't ever in situations where is goes anywhere alone, not yet.

Thanks

L x

bigmomma051204

Good for you OP.

Lots of people keep saying that their 7year old needs a phone so that they can contact them when they are "off with their friends"...... i would seriously question why parents are letting 7 year olds disappear off somewhere for long periods of time without knowledge of where they are....

I was a "country" child. I went off for hours across the fields with my friends. But i wasn't 7! I was probably closer to 9 or 10years.. and that was back in the 80's. Okay, it wasnt any "safer".. but our parents werent as aware of hazards as parents these days are.

So, get your kids a phone, by all means....but i can't understand why you would need to contact them on it. Shouldn't they be with you, their parents most of the time when not being looked after by an appropriate adult?? I am all for "freedom" but it should be within boundaries, certainly for a 7year old!!

(sorry, OP...i have probably opened up a hornets nest now!)

mazza111

Sometimes that appropriate adult isn't very responsible though bigmomma. My x certainly wasn't and as I said, it broke the control he had over me

GobbledyGook

bigmomma051204 wrote: »

I was a "country" child. I went off for hours across the fields with my friends. But i wasn't 7! I was probably closer to 9 or 10years.. and that was back in the 80's. Okay, it wasnt any "safer".. but our parents werent as aware of hazards as parents these days are.

So, get your kids a phone, by all means....but i can't understand why you would need to contact them on it. Shouldn't they be with you, their parents most of the time when not being looked after by an appropriate adult?? I am all for "freedom" but it should be within boundaries, certainly for a 7year old!!

(sorry, OP...i have probably opened up a hornets nest now!)

Whereas parents/people today are so aware of hazards today that they are massively over-cautious about children.

Children today are in no more danger out playing than kids in the 70's and 80's imo. The only exception to that is traffic so they are just as safe as ever in parks or fields. Other than that the new big danger to children is the internet and mobile phones as it makes bullying and grooming easier.

They are still in more danger in their home or from people who are well known to their family. Perhaps even more so nowadays as they spend so long indoors rather than escaping out for hours on end.