Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dd7 and a mobile phone

91 replies

Fullofthought · 22/11/2018 20:24

DD is very nearly 7. She's asking for a mobile phone as she has lots of friends who have them. She would also be able to use it to have contacted with her farther if he gets off his arse and writes to her it would progress to calls. Do you think that getting her a very cheap phone with a camera on it would be unreasonable and just not top it up often so it's more for the camera and him to contact her. I can get a very basic phone with camera for 10.79 including a £10 top up.

OP posts:
Ilovealexa · 22/11/2018 20:25

Definitely unreasonable

FitzChivalryFarseer · 22/11/2018 20:32

6 year olds do not need phones. Ever.

No, not even if their parents are not together etc. The adults need to sort it out so the child can speak to the other parent via alternative means i.e. an adult’s phone.

agnurse · 22/11/2018 20:38

Nope. She doesn't need a phone at that age. My DSD didn't get one until she was 12.

Why would she need one? She can contact her father via YOUR phone. If there's a problem at school, the school will call you.

IceRebel · 22/11/2018 20:39

She's 6, she doesn't need a phone. Also if her friends are the same age I would be very surprised if they had their own phones, more likely parent ones they can play on.

As for contact with her father it should be through you, so you can monitor what is being said.

Original poster
Fullofthought · 22/11/2018 20:54

I wasn't sure if the courts would say she had to be able to contact him when she wants or if it will be set times on set days.

OP posts:
Lovethetimeyouhave · 22/11/2018 21:04

I would never give a 6 year old a phone. My son (7) asked for one and it was a stern no. They are for adults, children do not need them.

SovietKitsch · 22/11/2018 21:06

Nope, WAY too young. Beginning of senior school plenty early enough. And my kids done live with their dad, and still didn’t need one til age 12!

spacefighter · 22/11/2018 21:07

I wouldn't dream of giving my 7 or 6 year old a mobile. I doubt your child's friends all have phones at this age.

Original poster
Fullofthought · 22/11/2018 21:08

Her friends that have them are 8-10 years old.

OP posts:
Ellieboolou27 · 22/11/2018 21:08

I’m pretty laid back but no way is dd having a phone. Maybe when she starts secondary school, she’s 6 now and it wouldn’t even be an option - she has asked for one though.

Our primary school had recently sent out a letter saying no phones as they have been responsible for most of the bullying.

Haggisfish · 22/11/2018 21:10

My dd, 8, has a phone. She plays games and messages her friends and me and dh. We can see what she does and who she messages etc.

loopy42 · 22/11/2018 21:12

Well obviously I'm gonna be slated for admitting this.

My 8 year old has an iPhone that is contracted that I pay £6 a month for. She plays out with her friends on the street where we live so means I can be in contact with her at all times.

But she mainly uses it to play games or watch YouTube as she would if she had a tablet (which she doesn't)

Haggisfish · 22/11/2018 21:13

I was dead against it until dd became more expert at using my phone than me!

wheresmyhairytoe · 22/11/2018 21:13

DD is 9 and according to her "eveeeeeeeeeeeryone has a phone". On speaking to her friend's parents it tens out none of them have a phone!
No way is she getting one until much older.

Haggisfish · 22/11/2018 21:13

She doesn’t take it to school though, obviously.

wheresmyhairytoe · 22/11/2018 21:14

Turns out. Bloody tablet!

Parker231 · 22/11/2018 21:17

Six year olds don’t go anywhere without a parent (other than school) so why would they need a phone? Mine got one when they were 11 and were getting the tube to school on their own.

RiverTam · 22/11/2018 21:17

Nope. No way, wouldn’t happen. Don’t care what other irresponsible parents give their kids.

cheesefield · 22/11/2018 21:23

No fucking way.

tinysleepy · 22/11/2018 21:25

My DS has had a basic phone from around 6 and at 8 is just about to have my old i-phone. He goes to all-day clubs occasionally during holidays and has a Saturday afternoon activity he does. He is a naturally anxious little thing, and he is much, much more confident if he knows he can contact us if he needs to check in. I know staff could call, but he wouldn't ask; he'd just sit and worry.
Yes, obviously phones can be the root of all evil, but its like screen-time. The screen or device is not the issue, a lack of boundaries and parenting is (IMHO). So, no social media accounts, no free-access without us checking, no passwords to download content without permission, no taking or sharing photos, etc.
I trust him so its a bit of a non-issue. Each to their own though Grin

Scardanelli · 22/11/2018 21:26

Not a chance.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 22/11/2018 21:27

This is the way things are going. There are a significant number of children at the primary school where I work who have 'better' phones than members of staff of same... Usually 'contact' with absent parents is given as the excuse, but I've yet to find a reason to (a) believe or (b) condone this. There is NO sensible reason for a child in primary school to have a mobile phone. None.

aroundanothercorner · 22/11/2018 21:36

No. She is too young. You would not be doing her any favours.
Just let her use yours to speak to her father.

MemoryOfSleep · 22/11/2018 21:36

I wouldn't condone phones for the under 11s. You've got to be a strong parent to resist the whinging, but I would try if I were you.

Wallywobbles · 22/11/2018 21:41

It's difficult to step back from here. And crap phones are just crap even if you are 7.

Swipe left for the next trending thread