...to think that kids really don't need mobile phones?

[Arana]

I've noticed a lot of occasions where a child (usually between say 10 and 16) has committed some misdemeanour, and is to be punished. So often though I hear "oh I can't take away DS/DD's phone, they need it for emergencies."

What sort of emergency does a 15 year old need a phone for all the time? For a true emergency (fire, car accident etc) there are phone boxes (there's still plenty around), and I'm sure nobody would object to someone borrowing their mobile phone to call an ambulance.

Mobile phones make life more convenient I'll admit - it saves you coming home first if you want to pop round to your friend's house etc, but surely part of the punishment of having your phone taken away should be curtailment of the lifestyle it enhances?

My kids aren't old enough to (allegedly) need phones, but from a personal point of view if I leave my phone at home when I go to work, it just means I have to keep my commitments, and make a phone call using a land line if I have to change anything important.

I can't believe how old I feel writing this, but I never had a mobile phone until I was 17 (30 now) and I feel like kids are in more danger from having mobiles (exposure to unsolicited texts, photos, bullying) than I ever was from NOT having a phone.

My 17 year old doesn't have a mobile phone or Facebook. . He does have a social life and manages to meet up with friends using our land line. I do make him borrow his sisters pink mobile sometimes when he is travelling or out late.

I will deffinitly get him one soon but it's never really been an issue. His older DB and younger DS both have phones, simple ones without Internet/cameras etc.

Of course they don't really need them - but we have to ask ourselves, do we realy need MN? After all women kept this country running through WW2 without it.

We don't have a lot of the things that many people regard as essential, but we've found mobiles are useful.

No, I don't let my 2 out without their mobiles, but if I tagged them instead how would I tell them to come home/teas ready etc?

Some of my friends who are teachers say lots of boys spend time on porn sites on their phones, whilst at school.

It is so common it is almost unstoppable.

I am physically attatched to my phone most of the time however i dont see why my 8 year old needs one.

My dd goes out to play with her friends. She tells me where she will b & i tell her what time to be in. A few of her friends have mobiles. There was an incident here once when a few kids went to the park. One kid had a mobile. A couple of the kids decided to go walkabout to where they werent meant to. One of the kids went home told their mum & another kids mum. The mum phoned the kid but the phone had been switched off. So really what was the point of that kid having that phone?

Population of 15,000 here, two phone boxes. One only takes international phone cards or some such nonsense.

Neccessity is the mother of all inventions. A mobile phone is better than a phone box.

Don't want to remove the phone.

Have a calls only payg Sim for such events.
Ground your teen.
Children have plenty of other privileges that can be removed.

If you don't think your child needs a mobile phone then don't get them one.

Umm OP when did you last use a phone box?

I used one about 2yrs ago (ironically at a station to get DS to run to bring my phone to me before I missed the trainLOL).

60p minimum charge. At 11+ I'm not convinced mine would have that, in the right change if needed (it's a lot of money for a kid) and then have a back up 60P on case the phone ate it.... AND you need to find a payphone! (no there are not " loads around- at least not in my city).

They have used them for emergency school closure due to snow- when you get to school by bus and the buses may be stopped at any time it's a big thing. Using the 1 school payphone or school ringing me when there are 900+ kids in the school?? No going to happen!

Also often used re breakdowns in public transport (they use buses and trains every day). Yes if you are an adult commuter and the bus route is stopped due to a road obstruction (truck stuck under a bridge) then you can think around " where am I .... can I walk home... what other route could I use...etc" but if you are a teenager that isn't so easy. DS could do it from about age 12, but DD1 has no internal map of the locality at all (I don't either really) .

My kids are all on P+G on the 19yr old has internet access.

I haven't seen a phone box in ages-certainly none around where my dc hang out. And the ones I do see are never coin operated.

Imo it is very convenient for them to be able to call for an accident that does not require 999 but still means that they are going to be late for dinner and have me worried- say a twisted ankle or a cancelled bus.

Dd has a dodgy knee which can give way under her at any time: mobile phones mean I can let her have the same freedom as other teens. The alternative would be to keep her at home and protect her.

I thought you would be talking about 6 year olds here!

YABU

"If they exist why not use them? It's not the 70s any more.If things exist to make life easier and to eliminate worry that's a good thing isn't it?"

Absolutely.

But it is silly to say that phones make children safer. They don't. They make life easier, provided they are charged up and actually in the chil's pocket and not lost, and provided there are firm back up arrangements for when they aren't, but not safer.

Having a phone makes life easier, exactly. For the parent as well as for the child.

If parent and child are both used to the child carrying a phone around, both of them will find it much more stressful if the phone is out of action.

Punishing your child by doing something that makes life harder for you doesn't sound very sensible.

'Some of my friends who are teachers say lots of boys spend time on porn sites on their phones, whilst at school.'

But the OP isn't talking about high tec phones with an internet connection, but mobiles in general. FWIW my children's school had the same rule as a previous poster, phones off and in your bag during the day, if seen confiscated and the parent/carer collects them from the office. Which shuts at 4.30pm.

"But why do they even need a payg phone for emergencies?"

Because you can't predict the nature of the emergency. A phone box might not be available for many reasons.

You are displaying a shocking lack of imagination if you can't imagine any occasions where a mobile might save the day. I can think of loads.

YABU and very short-sighted.

When we go out, we often split up and use our phones to rendezvous.

'You are displaying a shocking lack of imagination if you can't imagine any occasions where a mobile might save the day. I can think of loads.

YABU and very short-sighted.'

That's also why I said I'd value her opinion more if she had children over the age of 12 and was speaking from experience. But she isn't. She may change her mind.

"You are displaying a shocking lack of imagination if you can't imagine any occasions where a mobile might save the day. I can think of loads."

Really? I can't. I can think of loads where it would make life much easier, and save lots of time, and just be nicer. but "save the day"? Nope.

Nothing very dramatic, but mine have got mislaid on public transport, been to parties that went wrong and needed an unexpected lift back, sudden change of plans and they check in so I don't panic, my Aspie uses it as a lifeline when the real world is confusing and he needs an interpreter...
Not life-threatening, but certainly anxiety-reducing all round.
I was a teen in the 70s, a lot more payphones and no mobiles. It cost 2p to phone home.

I agree. But I hate it when people say their children need phones for "safety". I think that children aren't learning lots of basic skills because they think they can just use their phone. Which means they don't make arrangements, or know what to do when things go wrong. Which it could be argued puts them at more risk.

Personally, I was very much of the opinion that we didn't have them in our teens so why should our children need them.

However, you are talking to someone who swallowed their principles yesterday and bought DS a PAYG cheapie for £12. He is going to school in a neighbouring town and just think it is slightly neglectful for him not to have some kind of phone to contact us in an emergency.

His is a basic phone but he is very happy just to have a phone and won't be getting an all-singing/all-dancing one until he's 18.

The school said that any expensive phones would be confiscated - they want the boys to be safe but without running the risk of getting mugged for their phones. He said that all the local 'miscreants' know that the boys at DS's school only have cheap ones and it is very rare for them to have any problems for this very reason.

Of course I would, ever long- but I know I'm being pretty irrational to think that she is any safer with phone than without it!