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Original poster

Age of your child when they had their first mobile phone!

55 replies

Persephone70 · 03/05/2017 20:02

Sorry to put such a boring thread in AIBU, but I really wanted some high volume traffic on this one.
Basically, what age did/will you allow your child to have a mobile phone?
I know a lot of it is down to maturity etc. But, just wanted some straw poll figures 😃

OP posts:
HallowedMimic · 03/05/2017 20:05

Nine. At that age they were allowed to be home alone for half an hour or so.

They only had family members in the contact list, and were not allowed to add friends.

They really only used it for Netflix and games.

Fightingthefire · 03/05/2017 20:06

Ds1 got one when he was 10, dd1 got hers at age 9. No credit just for apps. Dd1 got a contract phone when he was 11 and dd1 will get gers when she's 10. They travel to school by themselves so need a phone.

StillDrivingMeBonkers · 03/05/2017 20:06

11, transition to secondary school.

requestingsunshine · 03/05/2017 20:06
  1. Once they started secondary school. But no social media and we know the passwords to it.
deadringer · 03/05/2017 20:06

My eldest was 10. It was pre internet through.

CassandraAusten · 03/05/2017 20:07

11

iMatter · 03/05/2017 20:07

11 when starting secondary

NormaSmuff · 03/05/2017 20:07

on starting secondary 11/12.

KimJongCunt · 03/05/2017 20:08

I'll be giving them phones when its necessary, so start of year seven probably.

My eldest is in Y6 and not left alone without an adult just yet so no need for a phone.

Hulababy · 03/05/2017 20:08

11, her first phone was a birthday present on her 11th birthday, in preparation for starting secondary school.

Redbookworm · 03/05/2017 20:09

My three sons have all had a phone for their 10th birthday

1happyhippie · 03/05/2017 20:13

My just turned 10 yr old has one. I gave her my old iPhone when she was 9. A lot of her friends had one for a while before her.
She mainly uses it to FaceTime her friends or send messages on whatsapp.

DownInThePark · 03/05/2017 20:14

11th birthday in August ready for starting secondary school.

wigglesrock · 03/05/2017 20:15

9 - my eldest got hers for Christmas, so she was 9.5, dd2 got hers for her 9th birthday.

Rowgtfc72 · 03/05/2017 20:16

Dd is 10 and got dhs old one at the weekend. It has no internet only games.
Most of her friends have had one a while.

HelgaHufflepuff76 · 03/05/2017 20:16

Both got theirs on their tenth birthday.
Very basic model and didn't use any social media then, just games and stuff, and only family numbers.

metalmum15 · 03/05/2017 20:17

11, right before starting Secondary school.

bigchris · 03/05/2017 20:17

11, like most on here for transition to secondary school, they got it in the summer holidays after year 6

Offler · 03/05/2017 20:17

DD had DP's really old android one since she was about 8 (nearer 9) so she could call us when staying over at friends/ family. On a PAYG, about £10 a quarter. She saved up her 10th birthday and Christmas cash and bought herself something a little swankier (Samsung J3). I'm not overly chuffed with her behaviour over it some of the time, but she can whatsapp her school friends and family members, and has music and apps to play.

HelsinkiLights · 03/05/2017 20:19

Old style clamshell phone on PAYG when DD was 7 & a half. It was more to keep me happy/peace of mind when she played with her friends outside in our very small village.
Now she's 10, she's just inherited my old iPhone which is on a monthly sim only deal.

Offler · 03/05/2017 20:19

She has no data on PAYG either, so can only use whatsapp at home.

refusetobeasheep · 03/05/2017 20:21
  1. Sadly because her dad and I split. Only his and my number on it, so she can call whoever she's not with when she likes.
NennyNooNoo · 03/05/2017 20:32

DS is 12 and homeschooled and doesn't currently have one, although he has access to a PAYG Nokia if he needs to go somewhere where he may need to contact us. We will probably get him a smart phone soon. DD is 9.5 and is way off having one. Like many others on here, i think transition to secondary is a sensible point.

ThouShallNotPass · 03/05/2017 20:42

9 because she was starting to go out and around the village with her friends.

Marylou2 · 03/05/2017 20:46

Tenth Birthday present. We were going to wait until High School but many of her friends were getting phones too. Iphone on a contract as that's what DH and I both have. Asking around though many friends have PAYG or pay contract with birthday/allowance/chores money. Maybe we've been a bit soft. It is her prized possession though.