mobile phones: what age and why?

[stroppyknickers]

After my mum offered to get dd (9, year 5) a mobile for xmas, we said no. DD very cross! However, two of her peers have them, and we have discussed it and think maybe secondary school, for lifts, safety etc. I am concerned about the health/ growing up too fast aspects.

Dd1 has just had one as her 11th birthday present.

I had originally said she couldn't have one until she started secondary school, when she'd have been nearly 12, but I relented because she has just started walking to school alone (well with friends) and has I have also just started letting her out and about a little bit.

We've also got my dd one for her 12th birthday in a couple of weeks. She is the last of her mates to get one. We only gave in cos she often walks to school alone and stuff now, so we thought it would be a good safety thing.

She hasn't got a play station, a Wiiii or anything else either. We are v.cruel parents.

ohh so are we. No TVs in bedroom (altho they do have dvd players and watch a film on weekend nights (in lieu of a story ), no Wii, no fizzy drinks, no sugary cereal in the week, etc etc. I'm surprised she even knows what a mobile phone is.

btw - pay as you go or contract?

i'm with the 11/12 brigade (though my 7 yr old DD just sent a letter to santa asking for one - dream on, pal)! no way before then, also no way to wiis, nintendo DS's, tellies or computers in bedroom, cocopops etc. am also v cruel and horrid mummy a la stroppy and puppy

ps the whys are exactly the same as yours stroppy. first and foremost health - the jury is still out as far as i can see on health aspects/brain tumours - eek! and i loathe the horrific rate our kids are now encouraged to grow up at by society and by consumerism. it makes me really depressed. it has to be fought!!

I am fighting a losing battle tho! I heard something on the radio about the risks to health and how it would be like smoking - vague suspicions it was harmful, scepticism, proof many years later. Trust radio 4 to put a stop to anything newfangled like portable telephones Also - dd is more than likely to reply to any random texts, odd messages etc (spam) and then sign up to millions of pounds in ringtunes for the rest of my life.

Both mine were 10, but that was because I work and I had to get a train home and I wanted to be able to contact them if I was a few minutes late.
Until this year they have had very cheap payg or hand me downs. Now DS is at secondary school he has a better phone, but the main reason for him to have it is to tell me if the train is late etc
I have no problems with ds, playstations ,wii etc but they have never had a tv in their room.

Normally I'd say secondary school, though dd got one in Yr 5 because of special circumstances (disability). She was only allowed to use it for safety until she got to secondary though. Ds will have to wait.