Do I police my sons friends phone usage at my house?

[lucy6058]

It's the first time my sons had a friend over for a sleepover. He's 12 and has had a mobile since he was 11. It's always been agreed that his mobile is to be left downstairs in the evening, to charge. He is not allowed his mobile in his bedroom at nightime.
However, his friend said he is always allowed his mobile at bedtime and felt anxious not to be able to contact his mum.
So they are currently up in my sons room with a mobile. I've turned off the WiFi in the hope the friend doesn't have data (but is still able to contact his mum should he need to). But what do others do? I'm interested in learning how best to navigate this. They are at such an impressionable age, and having started to watch the doc with Emma and Matt Willis, I do not like the idea of them being online late at night.
I am also unable to watch tv, as my smart tv needs the wifi!!!! So I'm going to bed to read a book!!!

Unpopular opinion but this is part of the reason I don’t have children for sleepovers, nor allow mine to go on them. Period

If a parent is worried about their child staying somewhere or that they can’t take their phone to bed with them; which is crazy they are allowed anyway. Then don’t let them have sleepovers! It’s madness all the people saying they should be allowed them, does anyone remember sleepovers as kids where we didn’t have a phone. Perhaps next time just tell the parents in our house we have this rule etc. if they don’t like it then they don’t have to stay.

The best thing is surely to just make it clear prior to the sleepover what the mobile phone rules are. The friend can then choose to just leave his phone at home, not have the sleepover at all or he will already be prepared for leaving his phone in the hall/ downstairs.

Considering so many children age 11 see violent pornography for the first time (anyone else seen the recent documentary on channel 4?) I don't think you are being unreasonable.

This is about protecting YOUR son, not appeasing theirs. I would have it agreed before the sleepover that phones are left downstairs at bedtime and he's welcome to have access to the landline or you can call his mum if he wants.

Blimey, talk about dramatic. I meant that kids stay up later, talk into the early hours etc. Normal rules tend to be relaxed at sleepovers, it’s meant to be fun.

You sound like an absolute delight

Honestly what's to stop him showing your son somthing inappropriate during the day . If that's infact what will happen.
Don't you trust your son to tell you if he is shown somthing he shouldn't see ?

Talk into the early hours, absolutely. But without their phones. Honestly the stuff kids are seeing is horrific, they often don't even mean to.