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Original poster

10yo birthday... Phone?

13 replies

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/06/2021 09:22

I know some responses will be a flat out no. If you asked us a few months ago it would have been a no!

Our For Case...

  • she's starting to go out alone
  • her only other tech is a 4yo Amazon Fire, so will be able to access homework apps on it
  • camera
  • we moved a couple of months ago, she is on a WhatsApp group with her old friends on my phone. Not having my phone used for this will be great
  • contact with her young 13yo cousin

Against
-she seems so young

It would be a basic smartphone. Well within budget on what we would spend on her birthday present. It would have strict rules. (Basically would be in our living room, can't download apps without permission, nothing like TikTok or Instagram, only adding contacts with permission).

  • internet out of house disabled. No taking it to Primary school

So... Would you?

OP posts:
princesslarmadrama · 11/06/2021 09:24

It's my 10 year olds birthday on Sunday and he is getting a phone. An iPhone 8. At 10 they are starting to get more independent and mine will be walking home from school next year so he needed one. Go for it.

MaMaD1990 · 11/06/2021 09:26

If she's going out on her own now she does need some way of contacting you and vice versa. Personally, I would just get a super old/basic phone (think Nokia 3310!) so she only has it for when she's out and isn't drawn into SM and the like. I know that doesn't help with WhatsApp groups though! Definitely wouldn't let her take it to school (unless she walks there and back by herself in which case it'll be a strict keep it in your bag rule).

Original poster
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/06/2021 09:27

We can see the school from our house so it's one thing we don't need it for! She will be going to Scouts in September so was hoping to let her do the five minute bike ride there alone until winter.

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idontlikealdi · 11/06/2021 09:28

DTs are getting iphone 8s for their 10th birthdays next month (reconditioned from CEX not new!).

They will be walking home from school from September, all the kids who walk home in year 6 have a phone.

At the moment they have ipods with no SIM so can use imessage and facetime with their mates, this is the next logical step and I am STRICT with screen time!

legotruck · 11/06/2021 09:29

Just do it if you want. You will get people coming on to tell you their 10 year old still plays with baby toys and that their adult DC get 3 mins screen time a day Grin

I don't have an issue with them having phones at that age, so long as they are taught how to use them safely and of course you monitor things. Tech is progressive, not the opposite. There is a lot of good in amongst the potential bad.

EarringsandLipstick · 11/06/2021 09:30

No, definitely wouldn't get a smartphone. If you need her to have a phone to contact you, go with a basic non-smart phone.

I also think generally if she's out & about she still shouldn't need to contact you. It should be in a way that you're comfortable with it & don't need to check eg playing with friends on the green or something.

I'm in Ireland, so my kids get a phone when they finish primary school (c12/13) and as they are starting secondary school. (I know ages differ a bit in UK).

MaMaD1990 · 11/06/2021 09:30

@legotruck

Just do it if you want. You will get people coming on to tell you their 10 year old still plays with baby toys and that their adult DC get 3 mins screen time a day Grin

I don't have an issue with them having phones at that age, so long as they are taught how to use them safely and of course you monitor things. Tech is progressive, not the opposite. There is a lot of good in amongst the potential bad.

Actually, scratch my comment. This is much better advise - teaching about technology and safe use is probably better than trying to shield them from it!
UserAtRandom · 11/06/2021 09:30

I gave my DC basic "brick" phones when they started going out and about on their own (age 9). The idea was they proved they could use them responsibly and keep them charged up and then we would progress to a smartphone for their 11th birthdays (in time for secondary school).
That doesn't help you with WhatsApp though, I guess, although I'd argue that you would want to keep very tight control of anything a 10 year old is doing with a smartphone so perhaps having short sessions using WhatsApp with your phone would be better than her having unfettered access to it.

Iamanaubergine · 11/06/2021 09:36

We did but installed Google Family Link on them. You can restrict the time spent on the phone & different apps and they can’t download any apps without permission. Phones go off an hour or two before bed (done through the family link app) and are kept downstairs overnight. We also do spot checks on messages etc. Obviously as they get older this will change but they’re still young and need guidance in navigating technology & the stuff that goes with it.

Spied · 11/06/2021 09:38

Yes.

moofolk · 11/06/2021 09:40

Mine all got phones at age 10.

OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 11/06/2021 09:40

It's a yes from me, shell be starting secondary next year and she will definitely need one then. Get it on the proviso you know all passcodes and check her phone very regularly. Have the chat about inappropriate use and never to write/post anything that could get her in trouble.

Original poster
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/06/2021 14:37

Thanks for your thoughts. We àre going to look at either her own basic smartphone, or upgrading one of our phones and giving her our old one.

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