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Original poster

at what age should children be allowed a mobile phone?

17 replies

wannaBe1974 · 30/06/2006 17:07

I have the same view as with tv's in bedrooms, ds can have one when he can afford one, and that includes the top-ups. Imo there is no reason for a child to have a mobile - we all managed without them when we were kids.

OP posts:

southeastastra · 30/06/2006 17:13

my 12 year old wants one, but i won't get one until he really needs it. he'll use all the credit up and email does the same thing, i don't know though i suppose i'll have to give in soon.

all his mates have top of the range ones

prettybird · 30/06/2006 17:14

.. when they can pay for it themselves!

WigWamBam · 30/06/2006 17:14

The world is a different place now to when we were kids though. I would see having a mobile as being the equivalent of my mum giving me 10p so that I could call her from a call-box in an emergency, and I think once dd is regularly going out on her own as a teenager she will have her own mobile phone. But not before 13 or so - and until she's old enough to pay for her own it will be a basic model, nothing flashy.

emsiewill · 30/06/2006 17:17

I will probably let them have one when they go to secondary school, as it is quite a way away (12 miles). Until then, they don't need one.

Even then, it will be basic and pay as you go, with excessive call charges covered by them!!

dd1 is with me as I am writing this and is not pleased with all your answers (ie cos they're the same as mine). Many of her friends already have phones (she's 9, in yr 4). I just don't think they need one yet. Complete waste of money.

FrenchGirl · 30/06/2006 17:22

probably secondary school, would feel safer I think

sowoffended · 30/06/2006 17:34

My 11 year old (yr 7) had one for his 10th birthday purely because I got it very cheap - I originally said he could have one when he started high school. He was thrilled but he never used it until he started High School, and even now he hardly uses it.

I feel better that he has one because he has to catch a bus to/from school and is starting to go out more with friends. It has been useful occasionally, it's very difficult to get a message to one child out of 800 when we've had to change plans.

He's abroad without family for the first time at the moment (sporting competition), and although contact has been limited, it's good to know we can contact each other - and he's texting me, so I know it's reassuring for him.

I think he's had two or three topups in the two years he's had it, and that included using it to keep in touch when he and his siblings were on holiday with grandparents, so as you can tell, not all children are constantly on their phones.

jalopy · 30/06/2006 17:35

My son is 12. We gave him one when he started secondary school. He travels by bus and sometimes he needs to contact us about changes or delays to his journey. His mobile is the bottom of the range and he's really sensible with it. Would hate him to travel without it now.

Nemo1977 · 30/06/2006 17:37

For me I intend to give children their own mobile when they are at the age of needing it because they are able to go out alone. They will then be expected to pay for their own top up cards.
MY cousin is 10 and has had a moblie from being 6 because he lives in ireland and his dad is in this country so my uncle bought it so they could keep in touch as his mum is a bit flakey.

puff · 30/06/2006 17:40

Well as the few phone boxes I see in London are cesspits from hell, even if they are working, I'll get something very very basic for both of them when they go to secondary school. I will feel happier knowing they can contact us if they need to.

sowoffended · 30/06/2006 17:42

How much does a public phone call cost these days?

How many boxes are around and in use (ie not vandalised)?

choxanwine · 08/01/2008 15:28

Any ideas on what would be a fair amount of monthly credit for my 12 yr old DD's mobile? I am currently topping up by £10 each month (in addition to £20 pocket money). She has to pay any excess from her pocket money - which is most months.

Go · 08/01/2008 16:43

Gosh you're generous! DD (11) got a phone for Christmas with £10 credit on it. Said I will top up £10 every couple of months. She doesn't get pocket money either. I think if you give them lots of credit they'll just spend it. She knows if she goes over her £5 then she'll have to pay for it out of her savings. [stingy mum emoticon]

serenity · 08/01/2008 16:51

I used to say that the DCs could have phones when they could afford them, but over the years I've come down to the 'secondary school' position. I might not have had one as a child, but that was because they didn't exist rather than that they wouldn't have been useful (Mum used to buy me phone cards, which I don't think are around anymore). Public phone boxes around here are pretty rank anyway.

Fanargadeb · 20/01/2008 23:22

there are sum very funny people around these days, im 19 and had my 1st mob at 12 as i travelled by a bus to school. i think u cant be too safe these days for a sake of a cheap fone with £5 cred cud really make a diff if they need u.

ScruffyTeddy · 20/01/2008 23:33

When he starts going off anywhere by himself (cant see it for a long time tbh).

macwoozy · 20/01/2008 23:35

I will buy one for ds if and when I allow him to go to places without me, just to put my mind at rest really.

ScruffyTeddy · 20/01/2008 23:36

I had my first mobile at 18, hardly anyone had one...I felt well cool with the brick hanging from my belt..with its little pull up aerial . Only got it because my bf gave it to me as he was getting a new one..he paid my contract too, no pay as you go then!

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