to give a mobile phone to my 6 (almost 7) yo?

[MsMarshmallow]

Part of me thinks it's unreasonable, but I'm going back to full time job and we're going to be apart for most part of the day. I think it would reassure her and also give me peace of mind if she had a very simple mobile phone with preconfigured numbers that she could use to call me in case of emergency or if she gets really upset.

Of course, I can also see this not working and I don't even know what the policy is in her school.

[sugarbunza]

My son has a mobile,he's 7 in July. like adults the novelty of it wears off after a bit. But its so handy. I wouldn't want him to not have it on him. He rings me about the funnyest things. But on a serious note he knows how to ring emergency services and he can call me whenever he wants. He's got a tablet and funky headphones. Its 2014 in another 5 years this conversation will be funny as all kids will have them. Won't be long before they bring proper child friendly phones in x

[sugarbunza]

Get him a phone to hell with what people think x

[DamnBamboo]

Why on earth does she need one.
So like many other kids, she won't see her mum during the day...

It is far far too young and she won't be allowed it in school anyway so what is the point?

[BohemianGirl]

Are you serious? A 7Yo with a phone in primary school?

shakes head

[DamnBamboo]

Read this

[MostWicked]

I think it would cause more trouble than it was worth.
She wouldn't be able to have it in school so it would need to be checked into the office every day and collected at the end of the day. Kept in a bag would be open to theft or breaking.

After school childcare may or may not allow them (depending what type), but if she has had a bad day and phones you in tears, that is going to make the child carer's job even harder as she will be less able to deal with problems herself (assumed she)

If she needs to talk to you, then her child carer will be able to call you, and give you a clearer picture of what's going on.

[BunnyLebowski]

Unreasonable, unnecessary and completely ridiculous.

Why the hell would a 7 year old need to ring her mum during the school day??

Eurgh.

[SweetSeraphim]

Crazy talk, this is.

[MammaTJ]

Who is looking after her when she isn't at school? Surely they would be able to contact you if she got upset.

[WorraLiberty]

I'm quite sure she wouldn't be allowed a phone in Infant school.

Even in my DS's junior school phones are only allowed for kids who walk home alone, and they have to given them in at the office every morning and collect them at home time.

[DamnBamboo]

Unreasonable, unnecessary and completely ridiculous.

Why the hell would a 7 year old need to ring her mum during the school day??

Eurgh

^
This

[Passmethecrisps]

Children get upset and then recover very quickly. If she has the means of calling you every time this happens I suspect the novelty will wear off for you if not her.

The adults in a school are in a much better position to judge whether a child needs a quick call with a parent or if it is an emergency situation.

No good will come of it I suspect

[britney92]

My oldest had one at 7 and he's now 17 and I have never had any issues. I'd split up from his Dad so made things easier that he didn't have to always go through me all the time to chat and keep in touch. However my DD2 is 7 and is desperate for one but she is no where near as technologically savvy or as mature so I've said no. I think it depends on the child.

[MiserableJanuaryJerseySpud]

YABVU

Why? just why?!

[squoosh]

Why do 7 year olds these days need to be allowed constant access to their parents? I don't mean to sound harsh but time apart from you is step one towards her becoming a self sufficient adult.

[Huitre]

Er, surely no school would allow a child of this age to have a mobile? In ours only children of nine or ten upwards (Y5 and 6) who are walking to and from school on their own are allowed one, and even then they have to hand them in at the office during the day and collect them at the end.

[livinginawinterwonderland]

YABVU.

She won't be allowed it in school anyway, so what's the point?!

[OddFodd]

If you think a 6YO needs a mobile to be able to contact you ' in an emergency' you need to get better childcare sorted.

britney - could you DS not have called his dad on the landline?

[BrianTheMole]

I cant see why a 7 yr old would need one. At school they are supervised by an adult, same as at home. 7 yr olds aren't generally left alone. They wouldn't be able to use the phone at school anyway

[DurhamDurham]

Whilst your child is at school she will need to know that she can't ring or text you every time she isn't happy or feels upset. You can't be there to sort out everything all the time, that's not how school or life is.

[MrsBungle]

Personally I would not let my 6/7 yo have a phone. I don't really understand when she would phone me? She's either at school, after-school club with her granny or me or dh. No need whatsoever.

[IneedAwittierNickname]

Surely your dd Will be with an adult, they can call you I'd really necessary?

[BunnyLebowski]

OP you would be doing your daughter no favours at all. You would in fact be severely hampering her independence.

Which is academic because there's no chance in hell a school would allow a 7 year old to have a mobile phone on the premises.

[Sirzy]

At7 a child will always be with another reponsible adult surely? So why on earth does the child need to be able to contact you? In an emergency the adult looking after them can contact you