Bloody mobile phones in primary schools.

[Aworldofmyown]

I'm sure this has been done to death but you only register something when it affects you!

First week back at school and x,y and z of DS friends got mobiles phones for Christmas - they are in year 3! He knows he can't have one and knows i'm unlikely to change my mind as his elder sister doesn't have on in Y6.

I'm pissed off because other parents keep implying that I am unreasonable by not letting them have phones - apparently I'm just delaying the inevitable. Our school has had real issues with inappropriate mobile phone use (think nasty texts, bullying etc) and whilst I can protect them from that I will.

Although I'm starting to wonder if I am being unreasonable

I am wondering if the posters saying "Not before secondary" have DC that ever go anywhere without an adult?

Probably. And then they have to at secondary school and can't even cross a road safely on their own.

Year 7 when they might actually need a phone and NOT before.
I have to say my daughter is in Year 6 and she is not the only one without a phone by any means. Don't feel pressured it is totally unneccesary

And in reply my daughter rarely has any reason or opportunity to go anywhere without adults but when she does she is somewhere where she could contact me like the local coffee shop run by someone I know

my yr5 DC has no phone and goes out without an adult. Admittedly not for lengthy periods, just walking to the shops or a friends house, as there is not much of a playing out culture here. IMO they can be as much of a distraction as bonus in terms of safety - I see lots of DC walking across roads oblivious to traffic while texting when they come out of school.

Not saying it's wrong to give them, but neither is it hand-wringingly negligent to send a DC out without one.

hermione what is the relation to not having a phone and not being able to cross a road?

Mobile phones have made people so rude, dangerous in the car. Walking yesterday so many people cycling on pavements on their phones, I understand its not illegal why??? I know 2 year olds who have their own phone. We had this "discussion" at work a few years ago, a friend said children from 8 should have a phone so that when they are out they can keep in touch and are safe. Well, I wouldnt let a 8 year old go shopping with out me, they said it would stop them getting abducted, oh, OK stranger is trying to get you into a car, hang on just going to call my Mum, more likely to get mugged for the fancy phone you are parading around in your hand. School is meant to be for learning, not being on your phone!

Yes I question the wisdom of letting an 8 year old roam around with a phone! It's not going to make them more safe. When they are 10 or 11 and making their first small journeys independently, does it really foster self sufficiency and responsible behaviour if they can call mum and get a lift/help/advice every 5 minutes? Actually the hand holding is still there and if you think you aren't being a helicopter mum because you let your kid out without you, but they've got u on hotline then, well. If I say be back from the park at 4 I expect a 10 year old to look at their watch and be home for 4. I'm not texting a reminder. If the park and journey wasn't safe I wouldn't let her go and she's not on her own she's with a friend.
And at my kids school if they are supposed to be getting picked up and noone turns up they can wait in the office.
Still no need for a phone

*WTAF

primary school children should NOT have mobiles

End Of*

Just because you type "end of" doesn't make your opinion correct....

My DD got a phone aged 7. Why? Because when me and her dad separated and spoke to her about it she asked whether she could have something to text us both from the others house.

She has an old iphone with a SIM that costs £5. It is set up so she can't purchase apps without approval. She has no social media nor will she get it until she is 13.

She doesn't give out her number, but she has bloody loved being at daddy's house and texting me and vice versa.

If it goes to school it is safely kept until she takes it home, it most certainly doesn't come out during the day. Does she tell people she has one? I don't know - if someone asks her then yes she will.

We got dd a phone at the end of year 4 when a relative thought Gut it would be a good joke to pretend they'd forgotten to pick her up after a theatre show. She would have been safe (with dance school chaperones) but we had no way of contacting anyone to let them know what we thought had happened.

In year 5 she was in professional panto & even though was accompanied all the time having a phone meant she could update is as to ever changing finish times to save us a lot of waiting round in the cold.

When we started to allow dd & DS a bit of freedom to roam we felt a phone was useful. On one occasion DS felt unwell & wanted picking up from the park, another time they phoned for advice when the bus suddenly decided not to run n the whole route.

In my day they would have been able to use a phone box to call, there used to be one on every corner but I'd struggle to know where there are any now.

I remember carrying a phone card around so I could call home if needed when out. Mobiles are just the modern version of that (if they're not smart phones). OH's little sister who is 8 certainly needed her phone last summer when she decided to come visit after school but no one was home, so she was able to call me and tell me she was waiting outside our house.

Children where I live start making their first independent journeys long before 10 or 11.

My eldest is 10 and goes out locally unaccompanied without a phone. If god forbid he was so badly hurt he couldn't get home or kidnapped, he wouldn't be using a phone anyway and any other problems or questions he can come home.
I'm more concerned about him walking across the road whilst on his phone or being mugged for it so the longer he goes without the better IMO

If my child needed a phone for a specific reason I would give them one. But not as a 'toy'. dd will be getting one for her birthday - she'll be 11 and starting secondary in Sept.

When they are 10 or 11 and making their first small journeys independently

Nope. Walking to school with a friend from Y4 here, no roads to cross.

hermione what is the relation to not having a phone and not being able to cross a road? confused

There seems to be some correlation for some posters between kids having some independence and getting a mobile. For DDs, the independence and developing road sense (and common sense) came first.

I agree, kids probably do need them nowadays but I don't think there's a need for them to have the latest thing. It just needs to be capable of making a call, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Dds first phone was a call/text only Nokia.

Her 2nd phone in year 7 was acsamsung Galaxy Y so a very very simple smartphone. It was only in year 8 she had an HTC as a Christmas present.

I don't understand the 'delaying the inevitable' argument. Surely it's an age appropriate thing?

My DC's (4 and 3) will inevitably one day be walking home from school, going out by themselves etc etc. Just because they will one day do something doesn't mean it's appropriate to do it now.

And judging by the OP's comment about the school having issues with texting and bullying etc, I think it's fair to say that most of these kids probably, understandably, aren't ready for having the responsibility that comes with having a phone.