To let dd1 take my smart phone into the park unsupervised?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

It's a Samsung Note, so quite expensive.

The reasons behind my asking are as follows:

She is on the verge of becoming overweight, she walks a lot and cycles quite a bit, but loves food and has no interest in any other sports or clubs.

She has just started to show an interest not in running as such, but a running App on my phone called Zombies! Run! a C25k training App. She's desperate to have a go.

I can take her with me as often as possible, but due to school/work shifts that would only be about once or twice a week.

I am considering letting her take the phone into the park to play with the app herself. The phone is insured against loss, theft and accidental damage. We would make it clear to her if anyone challenges her for the phone she is to hand it over immediately without argument and run straight home to tell us. Her safety is more important than a phone. The park is right opposite our house, so she wouldn't be going far. She is 10.

Could you not just get her a pedometer?

no i wouldnt

i would how ever get one of thouse things that you strap to your wrist that count how many steps or how far youv run etc

or get her a cheaper phone that does the app,

I wouldn't. Regardless of the phone's insurance, being robbed is pretty traumatic. She'd be very vulnerable.

Also please be aware that it's very hard to get phone insurance to pay up - especially the phone was being looked after by a ten year old... So it's not as simple as just submitting a claim. Eg if you lost it you have to know where you lost it..pretty ridiculous! I really wouldn't let her have the phone.

She's have it in a bag around her waist but she'd have earphones sticking out of the bag, so although people wouldn't be able to see the what she had, they'd be able to take a guess that it was an ipod/phone of some kind.

She has a pedometer, it is this particular App she is interested in, not the running itself.

How about a fitbit?

Buy a. 2nd hand iPod touch or iPhone on eBay. We did this for our toddler after he deleted my banking app playing with my iPhone!

Do the Apps work on those? I've never had one before. She has her own Kindle Fire, which would play this App but that is not insured, whereas my phone is.

Do it with her? And yes the c25 works on an iPod touch

how about a pedometer and looking where she is going?

The majority of kids here have smart phones as they have their parents' when they upgrade so it wouldn't make a child particularly vulnerable where we live. Completely depends where you live, where we used to live I would say no.

Tricky one as obviously you want to encourage her in the one fitness activity she enjoys but she would be very vulnerable for theft which has more impact than just financial loss.

Can her dad, grandparent or friend go with her on the days you can't? They don't necessarily have to run with her but just keep on eye on her and the phone and be a deterrent to someone looking for an easy victim.

let her have it if it is in her bag folk will just think it is an ipod or something not everybody is out to rob phones

I agree Mrs jay.

Do people mug for phones these days,I thought it want so common now that phones can be locked/located etc.

Wasn't

If she has it in a running belt and is just going for a run and with be sat around playing with it then yes I would let her.

I'd let mine to it.

do it

Is the phone insured when it is being carried by someone other than you?

If she's only across the road at a local park and it doesn't have a lot of antisocial issues and she is trustworthy then I'd let her.

And won't be sat around playing with it that should have said.

I don't get why you don't go too

You'll be at home surely not at work if she's at home?

I think it is ok as long as she is careful.