Daughter has bought her 7 year old a phone

True, its down to insecurity. Anything that deviates from their parenting methods is seen as terrible and they can't comprehend that some people have the time and energy to teach their kids appropriately, so just put us down as lazy parents instead of actually listening.

Snap - totally get why your child had one. Similar for me

as in ex is an alcoholic and I wanted to make sure that dd 8 could contact me anytime if she felt scared /unsafe/ if he is drinking etc while at his

she has never needed it for that use thankfully but covering all angles

dd also stays at a friend while I work so she actually uses it more to text me

she obv doesn’t have Facebook - tik tok - instagram - snapshot

she can use the internet but can do that on our home iPad so don’t see the diff for googling stuff /homework whether phone or iPad. Both have restrictions

it locks after so many hours use and apps close over night apart from calling /texting me

she’s learning how to be responsible with it

Thirty flirty said it all,straight from the horse's mouth so to speak as the reasons not to have a smartphone at a young age.

Mine haven't either, but that's not what people want to hear.

The phone isn’t the issue.

I assume they own a tv and a pc/games console, so it’s no different.

The only issue are the parental controls on it and whether she chooses to protect her that way.

You can just advise her of the dangers and help her with the parental controls.
She’s her parent so you can’t tell her what to do, only advise in a non judgmental way.

They are, in fact, perfect, thanks for acknowledging that.

But, no, none of my dc have ever had any online problems at all, because I educate them well, and if they did have problems they would know what to do.

And addictive!

He's severley ND so having his own helped to define what he was allowed for his own use solely. Believe me, it was a whole load of thought put into it and recommend by experts of his condition.

Where I'm from 7yo usually gets a phone. Smartphones are the most common ones. But majority of parents can control access to apps and Internet.

None of my older 4 are on any social media at all, they aren't interested.

As I say, I'm happy with my parenting.

What's the difference between her sending messages to her brother under my supervision on my phone for a short period of time per day vs her sending messages to her brother on her phone for a short period of time per day?

So? You can do all that on a smartphone so why have a tablet and phone when you can just have it all in one?

It depends why she’s bought it and what she intends to do with it. A smartphone is just a mini tablet, and people probably wouldn’t be up in arms about a 7yo having a tablet.

My 8yo has an old iPhone which he uses a tablet - it’s heavily locked down with just a couple of games and a handful of age-appropriate websites. There are time limits set so he can only use it for a set amount of time on specific days.

So technically he has “a phone” but he doesn’t have use of most things you would associate with a phone.

Why not get them a restricted kids tablets and download zinzoo? It’s run by you as a parent, it’s a messaging and video call app, you need codes to access contacts which is sent to the parent rather than the child and you have access to their account form your phone/tablet ect.

nobody, under the age of secondary school needs a smartphone. It’s a hill I will die on. My mum thought I was safe online when I was younger, I was given a phone young and I saw loads of shit I didn’t want to see that’s left me scarred.. and that was at 11-12 years old.

I’ve seen real life people be stabbed, beheaded, animals stomped on and killed, pornographic shit involving people and animals, I saw a glass jar break in a man’s anus when I was 12 years old.

I never looked for that shit, it was stuff that I was shown by other people, people who had accounts hacked, or just because it was shared around, sometimes I even got shown from a friends device.

I’ve been groomed, I’ve had my images I sent to my boyfriend put on social media.

At the time, I thought I was just talking to mates, people I met through games and apps.. looking back I know it was grooming now.

Smartphones should absolutely be banned before a certain age. You cannot stop what happens online completely.. they’ll never be 100% safe - but better they some understanding at 14/15 on what to look for, than clueless as a literal single digit child.

anyone who thinks it’s ok is a neglectful, naive parent and needs to do better.

I literally answered this on my last reply to you.

... so why did you give small children a phone?

What did they even use them for...

You can do that on a tablet though. I'm 37 and don't own a smartphone. I have a cheap Nokia for calls and texts (and Snake!) but I do everything else on a tablet, although I don't go on tiktok or Snapchat either.

Your daughter needs to look at the EVIDENCE here about how damaging smartphones are for children and young people:
https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/the-issue/problem

Well, the problem is also other people.

I'm sure your children are perfect and have never once had a single issue related to their mobile phone.

No it really doesn't, I'd say at least 75% of their friends also had phones.

Because when 10 year old children message each other... They get no respite from issues at school. They get added to groups. They get sent abusive messages, awful photos etc.

Ask anyone who works in a primary school if any child should have a smart phone..... , see how many school staff will say "yes it's a great idea"

Because its how I choose to do things.

Its worked out well for my family.

Not saying it works out for people with less rules and educating going on in their homes, but phones don't always equal social media.

🤣🤣

My daughter had one since 7 because she lives with her dad part of the week and he is quite dangerous/abusive but cafcass don't care.
I don't care who judges it was the right thing for my family..

She only had a few close family members on it who she could contact, and everything was locked down with safe search on. Only app she had was one for managing her medical condition

8! What on earth? That beggars belief.

These types of posts show exactly why the old "it takes a village" is very one sided and a load of bull.