Mobile phone dilema for son?

consumers_revenge

Hi,


Im looking for some opinions here as me and the misses point of view is very different. Our son in about to go up to senior school now and she wants him to have a mobile phone 'as most of the rest of his class have one in his current year'. Im not sure 'they all have one is accurate'?


Now I can see part logic in this. He will need to walk approx. 15-20 to get home along a main road ( the same time as the rest of his school depart ).


However he rarely looks after things so would expect him to lose or forget it/not charge it/ break it within a couple of weeks. Hes not the most organised, bless him. Could make him a target to steal his phone and apart from us theres not really anyone he would call anyway. It wont be setup for internet same as we don't let him use the internet unsupervised now ( just meaning were not sat over his shoulder he just has to use it in one of the family areas whether were sat in the same room or not.)


Whats your opinion? If he was a bit more organised then I may be swayed but not at the mo and I cant see its use. Its not like he goes out with friends playing in the street after school.


Does your 11 year old have a phone?


Cheers.


CR

silvercar

Our son in about to go up to senior school now and she wants him to have a mobile phone 'as most of the rest of his class have one in his current year'.

In my experience this is true.

However he rarely looks after things so would expect him to lose or forget it/not charge it/ break it within a couple of weeks. Hes not the most organised, bless him.

Cheap pay-as-you-go until he can show that he can look after it properly.

Could make him a target to steal his phone and apart from us theres not really anyone he would call anyway.

An old phone would be undesirable to thieves.

Part of parenting is letting your kids grow up.

gettingtheresometime

Get him a cheap basic phone?

balletshoes

no he doesn't need a mobile at age 11, but yes, most 11-year olds will have one of some description or other.

I agree with silvercar, first phone make it a basic one (but maybe give him a choice of 2 or 3 handsets) to see how he goes with it/how trustworthy he is with it.

ViolaLass

Does your kid want one? What does he say?

Robin9

Cheap pay as you go that he buys and pays for out of his pocket money - that way he learns the value of money.

consumers_revenge

Thanks for comments so far.


Was planning it being a cheapo Tesco type one. Not crud but nothing special either.



Hes just started asking about one but I think that's more cause some of his friend do. However when I asked who he would ring......'um, you?'

Good point about the pocket money.


We want him to grow up and encourage him to do so, hes just not superconfident as some of his peers.


Also constantly finding DS cartridges or XBOX cd's left here, there, anywhere as to lazy to look after stuff. That's a big concern.


CR

justme111

If cartridges of xbox games here and there are a big concern count yourself lucky.
People learn to look after stuff (to some extent , some grown ups do it better than others) by getting a lesson of what happens when they don't and then they can not find what they need /it is broken. Cheap phone and if he wants one better then getting it for him once he got used to looking after simple one /agreeing it as a reward for something in the future would be my choice. Not that I think your son does not deserve a flashy phone but if he is not used to go to school with a phone he indeed easily can lose it /drop it so better to start with cheap one. My 11 y o has an iPhone 6 and I warned her if something happens to it she will get cheap basic replacement and she knows I mean it - no missharps so far.

justme111

The question is not phrased well - he does not "need ". It will be easier, more convenient , helpful in socialising and safer if he has one.

Andypandyboy

justme111 wrote: »

If cartridges of xbox games here and there are a big concern count yourself lucky.
People learn to look after stuff (to some extent , some grown ups do it better than others) by getting a lesson of what happens when they don't and then they can not find what they need /it is broken. Cheap phone and if he wants one better then getting it for him once he got used to looking after simple one /agreeing it as a reward for something in the future would be my choice. Not that I think your son does not deserve a flashy phone but if he is not used to go to school with a phone he indeed easily can lose it /drop it so better to start with cheap one. My 11 y o has an iPhone 6 and I warned her if something happens to it she will get cheap basic replacement and she knows I mean it - no missharps so far.

Sorry, but that is asking for trouble: loss, theft, bullying, it is too big a responsibility to give an 11 year old a phone to take to school which is worth so much.

ViolaLass

Andypandyboy wrote: »

Sorry, but that is asking for trouble: loss, theft, bullying, it is too big a responsibility to give an 11 year old a phone to take to school which is worth so much.

Parental choice. It's clearly worked OK so far.