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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to give a mobile phone to my 6 (almost 7) yo?

69 replies

MsMarshmallow · 05/01/2014 16:29

Part of me thinks it's unreasonable, but I'm going back to full time job and we're going to be apart for most part of the day. I think it would reassure her and also give me peace of mind if she had a very simple mobile phone with preconfigured numbers that she could use to call me in case of emergency or if she gets really upset.

Of course, I can also see this not working and I don't even know what the policy is in her school. Hmm

OP posts:
sugarbunza · 05/01/2014 17:25

My son has a mobile,he's 7 in July. like adults the novelty of it wears off after a bit. But its so handy. I wouldn't want him to not have it on him. He rings me about the funnyest things. But on a serious note he knows how to ring emergency services and he can call me whenever he wants. He's got a tablet and funky headphones. Its 2014 in another 5 years this conversation will be funny as all kids will have them. Won't be long before they bring proper child friendly phones in x

sugarbunza · 05/01/2014 17:26

Get him a phone to hell with what people think x

DamnBamboo · 05/01/2014 17:26

Why on earth does she need one.
So like many other kids, she won't see her mum during the day...

It is far far too young and she won't be allowed it in school anyway so what is the point?

BohemianGirl · 05/01/2014 17:28

Are you serious? A 7Yo with a phone in primary school?

shakes head

DamnBamboo · 05/01/2014 17:32

Read this

MostWicked · 05/01/2014 17:33

I think it would cause more trouble than it was worth.
She wouldn't be able to have it in school so it would need to be checked into the office every day and collected at the end of the day. Kept in a bag would be open to theft or breaking.

After school childcare may or may not allow them (depending what type), but if she has had a bad day and phones you in tears, that is going to make the child carer's job even harder as she will be less able to deal with problems herself (assumed she)

If she needs to talk to you, then her child carer will be able to call you, and give you a clearer picture of what's going on.

BunnyLebowski · 05/01/2014 17:34

Unreasonable, unnecessary and completely ridiculous.

Why the hell would a 7 year old need to ring her mum during the school day??

Eurgh.

SweetSeraphim · 05/01/2014 17:35

Crazy talk, this is.

MammaTJ · 05/01/2014 17:35

Who is looking after her when she isn't at school? Surely they would be able to contact you if she got upset.

WorraLiberty · 05/01/2014 17:36

I'm quite sure she wouldn't be allowed a phone in Infant school.

Even in my DS's junior school phones are only allowed for kids who walk home alone, and they have to given them in at the office every morning and collect them at home time.

DamnBamboo · 05/01/2014 17:36

*Unreasonable, unnecessary and completely ridiculous.

Why the hell would a 7 year old need to ring her mum during the school day??

Eurgh*

^
This

Passmethecrisps · 05/01/2014 17:38

Children get upset and then recover very quickly. If she has the means of calling you every time this happens I suspect the novelty will wear off for you if not her.

The adults in a school are in a much better position to judge whether a child needs a quick call with a parent or if it is an emergency situation.

No good will come of it I suspect

britney92 · 05/01/2014 17:47

My oldest had one at 7 and he's now 17 and I have never had any issues. I'd split up from his Dad so made things easier that he didn't have to always go through me all the time to chat and keep in touch. However my DD2 is 7 and is desperate for one but she is no where near as technologically savvy or as mature so I've said no. I think it depends on the child.

MiserableJanuaryJerseySpud · 05/01/2014 17:49

YABVU

Why? just why?!

squoosh · 05/01/2014 17:52

Why do 7 year olds these days need to be allowed constant access to their parents? I don't mean to sound harsh but time apart from you is step one towards her becoming a self sufficient adult.

Huitre · 05/01/2014 17:53

Er, surely no school would allow a child of this age to have a mobile? In ours only children of nine or ten upwards (Y5 and 6) who are walking to and from school on their own are allowed one, and even then they have to hand them in at the office during the day and collect them at the end.

livinginawinterwonderland · 05/01/2014 17:57

YABVU.

She won't be allowed it in school anyway, so what's the point?!

OddFodd · 05/01/2014 17:58

If you think a 6YO needs a mobile to be able to contact you ' in an emergency' you need to get better childcare sorted.

britney - could you DS not have called his dad on the landline?

BrianTheMole · 05/01/2014 17:59

I cant see why a 7 yr old would need one. At school they are supervised by an adult, same as at home. 7 yr olds aren't generally left alone. They wouldn't be able to use the phone at school anyway Confused

DurhamDurham · 05/01/2014 18:01

Whilst your child is at school she will need to know that she can't ring or text you every time she isn't happy or feels upset. You can't be there to sort out everything all the time, that's not how school or life is.

MrsBungle · 05/01/2014 18:02

Personally I would not let my 6/7 yo have a phone. I don't really understand when she would phone me? She's either at school, after-school club with her granny or me or dh. No need whatsoever.

IneedAwittierNickname · 05/01/2014 18:03

Surely your dd Will be with an adult, they can call you I'd really necessary?

BunnyLebowski · 05/01/2014 18:03

OP you would be doing your daughter no favours at all. You would in fact be severely hampering her independence.

Which is academic because there's no chance in hell a school would allow a 7 year old to have a mobile phone on the premises.

soverylucky · 05/01/2014 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sirzy · 05/01/2014 18:05

At7 a child will always be with another reponsible adult surely? So why on earth does the child need to be able to contact you? In an emergency the adult looking after them can contact you