To think 9 is too young for an i phone!

[JakieOH]

Just that! I think it waaaaay too young but AIBU?

Dd's EE contract has capped Internet and mobile data. Once her data is gone she can't go over it. And we have to phone up for her to use her phone abroad - it won't make calls abroad at all without this.

Only once have we had an unexpected bill - last month. And looking at her bill there has been an error. 101 picture messages sent over a space of 1.5 minutes all to same number. Each occupancy is the same text twice and an email - all same number/address, same file size, same time. Clearly an error. No way it was physically possible either. Just home from holiday so will be sorted today ASAP. But that is the first issue we have ever had it over two years.

I don't know a single nine year old with a phone. The youngest I know received one for her 10th Birthday.

Just not on our radar for a few years yet.

You shouldn't have bought the iPad.

Regarding the phone if he can't afford it - it doesn't get bought.

I think a lot of children get spoilt way beyond their means. It leaves you no room as they get older.

My nephews are 10 &14. There father is in the forces so not a massive pay check but they have iPhones, Motor bikes, iPads, the newest Xbox, Sky in their room. Anything they ask for they get. BIL and SIL have a miserable time at Christmas scrimping and saving and worrying about money. Then it's all over in one day. And they boys still act up. They have no idea how long or hard it take to earn money to buy these things.

I actually told my DP off the other day for turning up after work with a dolls pram for dd (2) it wasn't cheap and he 'just wanted to get it her' - no real reason.

Their father *

I think it up to the individual family. We gave DS my old Iphone 4s for his 11th birthday, but he found it too heavy and bulky for his pockets (he's about the size of an average 8 year old) and was worried about losing it or breaking it, so we switched back to a tiny cheap non-smartphone which is far more practical for him (he already has an Ipod). He's still got the Iphone, but we're not putting any credit on it till he's ready to start using it again.

DS1 had a phone for his first year of secondary school, not a smart phone though.
In his second year (age 13) he asked for an iPhone for Christmas and now has an iPhone 5. I put £10 on it every 3-4 weeks.

Internet is age restricted to age 12 - there is some very dodgy stuff that is far too easily accessible IMO.

My DS is 9 and has my old iPhone 4.

I'd bet it's more secure and safe than most children's tablets.

Internet, App Store etc is disabled. No credit on it to make phone calls or send texts. He uses it to listen to music and audiobooks, play games and look at Google maps.

How is that different from a iPad?

That makes me sad Glittery.

My dad used to do those sorts of things for me and I adored it. Not because of the toy or whatever but I was just always thrilled with the surprise and the fact he'd thought of me. He was always doing things like that and I'm surprised anyone would think anything of it other than a doting Daddy!

Liberty - it's not but people do tend to like to have a tut and a huff

I know i shouldn't have bought it she was so excited about it though I couldn't bring myself not to. Her mother shouldn't have told her she was getting it knowing full well neither of them could afford it. anyway that was then, I won't be doing it again. If I was going to buy an i phone for anyone it would be for her father not for her.

I'm sure it won't be the last we hear about it if I had my own child there's no way I would buy them an I phone. Each to their own though, it's certainly not the biggest issue in any of our lives I suspect

In fact, on the strength of this thread I've just ordered a free sim for DD1's iPhone because it'll tickle the hell out of her if I phone her on it! I won't be putting credit on it though so she won't be phoning or texting for a fair while yet!

So there, in about 48 hours she'll be a 7yo with an iPhone. I win :)

Glad I helped put a smile on a 7yos face shelagh

DD 10 has just inherited her dads iPhone 4.

She will be going to school by herself from September (20 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride) and I want to know she has arrived safely.

We have gone with a £10 250 minutes, 1000 texts and not much data and she is under very strict instructions about how and when it is used.

For us, it was that or buying a cheaper more basic phone. I also have the find my phone switched on which I find reassuring.

For me, it does feel young, but as soon as you are letting them out alone, they should have a way of staying in contact.

It is different from an I pad which she use only for games and music.

tuting and huffing dame diaz Surely par for the course on AIBU

She will definitely smile. Or possibly less so when I ring and say "stop playing Crossy Road and put that bloody phone down THIS MINUTE!" :o

In all seriousness, we are a VERY gadgety household so iPhones are inevitable here, but she uses it for games, music and taking photos. It won't work as a phone or be casually carried about her person for about another 4 years.

I'm not fussed if it is an iPhone or not, (although comments about buying them so the kids wouldn't be left out are a little worrying. What is that teaching them?) But I do hate to see people of all ages constantly glued to their smart phones and even though kids are told about usage, kids do get carried away and I do think that encouraging phones early is not something I would want to do. We've just been to Florida and there was a boy of around 10yo on the dogems who was busy scrolling on his iPhone whilst driving his bumpercar! Wtf? I know many parents wouldn't allow this but his did and there will be others who do. If your kids do have smart phones, please speak to them about how important it is to still interact with real life and not just a virtual one.

I can't understand why a 9 year would need a smart phone (or a phone) at all unless they were spending time alone outside the house like walking to school. Dd (almost 12) got her first phone last week (not an iPhone) as she will be walking to her new secondary school in September.

Because it gives them pleasure.

DS1 is 9 and has an old iPhone of mine on contract for the days he travels to school on the bus when I'm at work. He'll text me when he's there, hand it in to the office, collect it at home time and get the bus back to the school I work in. Between times he rarely checks or uses it, and the only people with the number are DH, myself, Grandparents and a couple of friends.

It helps that DH and I set limits on our own iPhones; we don't have them out at mealtimes, we aren't glued to them when we're out and about and we use them as a means of communication rather than for entertainment. He's grown up using technology but not relying on it. For me, that's the important part.

They don't need it, but they don't need any toy, which is what an iphone is to a 9 year old. And to grown up too, I suppose.

Pinktruffle, do you not want your children to find pleasure in the real world more so than a virtual one? Many many generations managed to lead pleasurable lives before I phones were invented!

They can do both but in any case I don't think he uses it as a virtual world. Music and videos and TV (we don't have a TV) yes. He doesn't use social media or anything like that.

My 9 year old goes out and about with friends now, so needs a phone. I don't care what phone it is. If the best deal is an old iPhone, so be it. Nothing to obsess over.

So have any of you that have young children (under 10) with i phones actually gone out and bought a new one, specifically for them? Bare in mind this girl has an i pad for all her Apps, games, music etc.

Yup.