Does your 7yo have a mobile phone? Would you let them?

[weightwatchingwaterwitch]

I was quite shocked to hear that 4 children in my friend's daughter's class (they're all 7) have mobile phones. Do your children have one and what age do you think it is reasonable to have one?

[flatmouse]

DS is 4.5 and DD 1.5 so issue not arisen yet. In my mind i would let them have a mobile around the time when they get a little more independence for going out and about - so probably about aged 12. Up until that age, i would be with them or they would be at known place with me or DH collecting them etc. so no need for phone.

[Fimbo]

No I wouldn't give me DD one (she's 6 albeit going on 16) I have told her she can have one when she is thirteen/fourteen or when I decide she can go out with her friends and only then for safety reasons.

[nutcracker]

My Dd is 7 and no she doesn't have one and No i wouldn't let her.

I told her she may be allowed one once she starts secondary school.

[jollymum]

No, My 11 yr old has one, started "big" school. Topped it up then told they're not allowed them at school. Mind you, I've told him to keep it in his pocket, turned off, just in case I need him or he needs me. No 7 year old should be anywhere IMO where they need to be contacted or to contact you, 'cos they shouldn't be out on their own. My daughter is 9 and her friend lives about 20 houses up the road. When she's ready to come home, her mum stands on the drive and so do I to watch her down the road. No way would she be allowed out on her own. Mind you, when I had a broken foot, she had to walk home from school on her own. The head tacher phoned me when she'd left and it was a long 20 minutes, believe me. I told her to cross at the crossing and was very proud of her. She was made up to be on her own, but wht I didn't tell her was that a friend of mine had walked halfway there and tailed her home!

[Frizbe]

No ss doesn't have one, (aged 6) and he's not going to have one until at least senior school, until they're that age IMO you should know where they are! shouldn't you?

[Tinker]

No and no. What on earth would they talk about? At least they're now officially dangerous for under 8s.

[pabla]

My 7.5 yr old dd won't even talk on the house phone so would have no interest in a mobile! Round here kids seem to mostly get them when they start secondary school and are walking/getting the bus to school on their own - mainly for safety reasons. But generally they are not allowed to use them during the school day and have to keep them in their lockers - or hand them in to the school receptionist in the case of one school.

[tigermoth]

www, lots of children in my son's class of 10 and 11 year olds got mobile phones for christmas. DS is angling for one, too. I think he is still too young and the risk of him breaking or losing it is way too high.

However, by the summer term he will be walking home alone from school. It's a 20 minute walk through residential streets. There will be lots of school children and parents about, some of whom ds will know, as he has attended both schools along his route. However, crime in the area is high and there are teenage groups about at that time, too, so there's the possibility of bullying, intimidation and theft. dh and I are trying to decide whether having a phone is more of risk than not having one. difficult.

[otto]

My 9-year old step-daughter was given one by her BM for Christmas. I thought it was a bizarre present as sd never goes anywhere alone. Over Christmas she used it to play games and take pictures, but has probably lost it as I haven't seen it since then. I don't think phones are necessary until children have to make journey's on their own.

[weightwatchingwaterwitch]

Agree with everyone that one would presumably know where a 7yo was all the time so they shouldn't need one. I'd worry about mugging too tigermoth. I don't think my son will get one until he's at secondary school and/or walking home alone at the earliest.

[hercules]

According to the police who visit my school you are at far motr risk having one than not.

[Bozza]

TBH Tigermoth think a phone would increase rather than decrease safety because of mugging. As a safety device for children I think they are over-rated. Its well documented that Holly and Jessica had them after all. I like having mine when driving and it has proved useful once - when I got a puncture whilst heavily pregnant and on my way home from work to collect DS and on a country road. Rang DH to collect DS and then come rescue me.

[Piffle]

No and No
My sons dad (my exp)gave him one a while ago, he's 10. Was annoyed as I had refused, anyway he lost it so that's 10 points to me on the I told you so chalk board.
As far as I am concerned he can buy and pay for ones upkeep when he can afford it himself!
I have let him take mine out on occasion like on a bike ride etc

[Frizbe]

True if your worried about their safety, better of getting them self defence classes, than a mobile phone, keeps them fit too!

[MunchedTooManyMarsLady]

My dh promised DS1 a phone when he went to secondary school. In fact he promised it a year earlier and I said no. Long and short of it.... I gave DS1 my old Nokia, which can text and call, and I top it up for him once a month at a max. It's for him to let us know if he has been delayed at school, rugby has changed or if he wants to go to tea with a mate. The school has completely banned camera phones and highly recommend that if parents do give phones to their children that they be the cheapest, ugliest one they can find. I wouldn't give a phone to a 7 yo and I am constantly astonished that people give them to children so young!

[misdee]

eldest dd is only coming up 5 in march, but no way is she having a mobile b4 her teenage years.

[roisin]

DS1 is 7.5 - he doesn't have a phone and I don't foresee him having one in the near future. But I can imagine him having one if circumstances were different.

For example, our neighbours' children are 9 and 11, and their parents have just split up As well as keeping in touch with both parents without going through the other, they are also suddenly in more complex childcare arrangements - going to different houses after school, sometimes having lifts, sometimes walking (some distance) by themselves. I don't know whether or not they do have mobiles, but if I were in that position (and I hope I never am) then I would certainly consider it.

[galaxy]

No I wouldn't. We wont let ds have one. He has one fromhis mother but he's not allowed to bring it home.

[JJ]

My son (nearly 7) will be taking one to birthday parties and things like that where he's with adults who are supervising but don't know him all that well. He'll keep it in his bag with his EpiPens and inhaler so he - or whoever is helping him - can easily call me if anything happens (don't want him to have to faff about getting the adult in charge to call on hers).

As I've said on a previous thread like this, most parents will only hear their son or daughter say, "Well, X has a phone....".

[lavenderr]

no

[KateandtheGirls]

[JJ]

Oi! Are you thudding me? And what does it mean?

[KateandtheGirls]

No JJ. Jan doesn't seem to be around so I thought I'd do it for her.

[JanH]

Kate, you can be thud2 when I'm not here, OK?