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Original poster

Quick poll please: does your 10yo have a mobile phone? Do you think it's ok for a 10yo to have one?

40 replies

WideWebWitch · 14/10/2007 20:51

Dh and ex dh are here saying no way, 10 is too young. Ds has his own money and may want one.

So, what do you think?

(both dhs have LOADS Of gadgets btw!)

OP posts:
Freckle · 14/10/2007 20:57

What does he want it for? My 9yo is after one but I keep telling him that his older brothers only got one when they went to secondary school, so he'll have to wait until then too.

My point is that, much as my 9yo wants one, I'm not entirely sure what he'd do with it. None of his friends has one, so who would he call/text? It's just one of those "must have" things when people don't even know why they must have it.

mrsmerton · 14/10/2007 20:58

I think when they start secondary and have to make a journey by themselves.

Original poster
WideWebWitch · 14/10/2007 20:59

Ex dh just said that "who would he call fhs?"
Ds isn't desperate for one so I suppose it can wait but for me, the principle is that it's HIS money, he can spend it on a phone if he really really wants one (and he would have to pay for calls etc too). DH said 'oh so if he wants Crack, can he buy that?' - I have argued that it's not the same at all.

OP posts:
fourboys · 14/10/2007 21:03

No my 10yo does not have a phone and I have no plans to buy him one.

allhallows · 14/10/2007 21:04

I got my dd(7) one last week with Orange. They have a special deal for children. Dd only needs it when she goes round to her friends' houses, all neighbors. It saves me having to run around looking for her, which I've done too many times. Now I can ring & say "come home, please" & she can ring & say she's "going to X's house, is that ok?" I told her that if she loses it, breaks it, whatever, it won't be replaced for 2 yrs. It's her responsibility & I she seems to take it very seriously.

Freckle · 14/10/2007 21:05

I think you need distraction techniques. Sure, it's his money, but I'm sure you're not happy about him spending it on something which he would get very little use out of and which he probably only wants because "everyone's got one".

Can you find something else he might like to spend his money on?

Tortington · 14/10/2007 21:06

no and no i didn't let them.

I was vehement about not letting pre-teens ahve mobiles.

i can't remember why at self.

pointydog · 14/10/2007 21:06

dd1 got her phone when she was 10.Reasons:

  1. Her pals were starting to get them
  2. She had just started going down the town, to the swimming baths etc with a friend and I wanted a lot of contact during these trips at first.

She sometimes texts friends. She does update me with where she is by text/phone if she goes into town. It's pay as you go and she doesn't spend that much so I don't mind.

foofi · 14/10/2007 21:07

My dd is 10 and has just got a mobile. (It is my old one as I wanted a new one. {spoilt emoticon})

We originally said she could have one at 11 when she started secondary school, but eventually I caved in as most of her friends have them, and it has made her so happy! She doesn't make any calls on it - just sends occaisonal texts.

PestoPumpkinMonster · 14/10/2007 21:08

I'm the same as Mrs Merton. My dd takes a walkie talkie with her if playing out, then I can radio her in when necessary. Phone not needed until going to secondary on her own imo.

empen · 14/10/2007 21:09

My 5 year old dd has already asked for one for xmas!!! she is obviously not getting one but I am starting to worry about what age I should give in cause I know she is going to ask at every xmas and b day until she has one. I had thought 10 would be a reasonable age

pointydog · 14/10/2007 21:14

I think this is something that older people (like us ) feel strongly about but often without any real reason. Phones are fun, just like walkie-talkies.

Well, there is the brain-frying reason. That's a worry, I suppose.

lilospell · 14/10/2007 21:14

Our rule is: "when you start going places on your own" (including to/from school. My DS got his when he went to secondary, Yr 7. DD keeps asking for one, she was 10 this month. She doesn't need one, although she might be going to/from school earlier than her brother did, so might get phone earlier too.

pointydog · 14/10/2007 21:17

dd2 (almost 9) goes to the park by herself and to friends' houses. She wants to phone us instead of physically checking in every hour or two.

That's laziness on her part. But we'll get her one for Christmas.

Original poster
WideWebWitch · 14/10/2007 21:18

Ds isn't arguing for one particularly, and whether he wanted one or not I could say 'No' and he'd accept it (he wouldn't have a choice, the cash is in a bank ac controlled by moi!)

Yes, I think secondary school sounds reasonable as that's when I'm going to expect him to walk to school alone.

OP posts:
allhallows · 19/10/2007 14:38

Dd(7) has just lost her mobile phone. At McDonalds, of all places.

I should have known better than to believe she could take care of it. Now I'm stuck with a 2 yr contract & no phone.

So I've changed my mind. Children should not have mobile phones.

Magicmayhem · 19/10/2007 14:44

DS aged 9 and DD aged 11 have both had one for about a year... DS goes to the skate park, and down the park and it saves me keep walking up there to see if he is OK... DDs friends ring or text her in the morning to say if they are going to be late ect.. she also rings me if shes going to be late from school.
DS's phone was as old phone of my uncles and we just go a Tesco's simcard for it
DD has a newer phone pay as you go...

Freckle · 19/10/2007 14:49

Why on earth would a 7yo need a mobile phone? And to take out a 2 year contract rather than PAYG?? Bl**dy ridiculous.

allhallows · 19/10/2007 14:57

I know.

allhallows · 19/10/2007 14:59

We live in a remote hamlet & dd is always running around, going from one neighbor's house to another. She used to have to come home to tell me where or what she was doing every half hour, which was a bit of a drag for both of us. Too bad!

Magicmayhem · 19/10/2007 15:02

allhallows... walkie talkies would be great for that....

allhallows · 19/10/2007 15:05

We don't have walkie-talkies over here.

I'm so angry with dd I could scream. Good thing I left her at my mum's while I went back to look for the damn phone! Actually, I'm just as angry with myself. Bloody stupid thing to have done.

Magicmayhem · 19/10/2007 15:06

where are you allhallows

allhallows · 19/10/2007 15:07

Switzerland.

bamzooki · 19/10/2007 15:13

DD is nearly 10. She has my old phone with a PAYG sim, and minimal money on it at any one time. But tbh - she rarely uses it, it mostly has a flat battery, and frankly she is so scatterbrained I'm amazed that she hasn't lost it.
It has been useful for keeping in touch with her while on pony camp/ away at Granny's/ while I was away on a course etc but we would have managed without it easily.