Why why WHY would you give your 7 year old a mobile phone???????

[CharlotteACavatica]

My friends little boy who is only just 7 has one, she put £10 top up on it for him today while we were out, im sorry but i think its bloody loopy!! now my ds1 is begging me for one - no chance!

Jelley she could write or fax..

I am not condoning mobiles for children BTW; just thought I'd read researching saying no risk was proved. Happy to be told otherwise. DD won't be having a phone for a long time!

Wannabe, I think all children who travel to school from our remote area need them. I drop off and pick up dd from a bus stop 1.5 miles from our house. It is remote and there is no safe way to walk home from there. If her bus is late/I break down/she misses the bus (school is 10 miles away) she needs to contact one of us. Also she meets friends in town and texts to ask if it is OK to go on bus/to friend's house/cinema. Younger dd and ds have them for when we're out. They never use them at home - we have no reception in the sticks anyway. It gives them more independence if they are taught to use them responsibly. I reckon my 13 yo has £10 on hers every 3 months or so. Well worth it.

I'm 42 and I'veonly just got one.

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