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Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

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Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Preteens

9 Year old asking for iphone?

65 replies

MegBarker · 21/03/2017 09:15

My 9 year old daughter came home from school the other day and told me that some of her friends have got an Iphone and asked if she could have one. I was so shocked, she seems far too young in my opinion and definitely not ready to have unlimited access to the internet, especially social media! My husband and I were thinking about getting her a phone so that she can call home if she needs to but she manages to lose everything so I'm worried that she will just lose it or it will get stolen. Does anyone have any words of wisdom? I really don't want her to have an Iphone yet.

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SeekingSugar · 21/03/2017 09:16

Tell her no?
Kids ask for lots of stuff , doesn't mean you have to buy it for them.
My 2yo asked me for a car 🚗

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Scrumple · 21/03/2017 09:18

Far too young imo.

Why would she need to call home? Do you mean when she's at a relative's house, or does she walk home from school alone?

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Buttercupsandaisies · 21/03/2017 09:22

Almost all the kids in DDs school have iPhone (normal state school). We got DD an iPhone 5s for her 11th birthday - costs £18 per month. Dd9 also wants one now as all her mates have them - she has my old iPhone 4 but will get a better one when she's 11.

Don't feel pressured to buy but it's hard when yours is the only child without and they're discussing messages from the night before etc.

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Dipsydora · 21/03/2017 09:24

It's a big fat NO!
I also have a 9 year old they will not be getting any phone until secondary school, even then I don't really want them having one but accept I will probably have to give in for to and from school. Why does a 9 year old need a phone?

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Buttercupsandaisies · 21/03/2017 09:24

The reason most of the kids DDs age want phone isn't the Internet - I've got limited browsing set up on both my DDs. It's actually for all the free games, apps and free watsapp. DDs rarely make any calls and dd9 doesn't even know how to use the Internet properly yet as I use apps for everything

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ExplodedCloud · 21/03/2017 09:27

An iPhone at 9? No.

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elektrawoman · 21/03/2017 09:27

There are plenty of other smartphones around that can get apps and WhatsApp - it doesn't have to be an iPhone. I didn't let DD have one until she was 11 though, in preparation for secondary school and when I felt she was mature enough to look after it and to manage the social media stuff.

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gamerchick · 21/03/2017 09:29

Nope not if she's prone to losing things. A good incentive to work towards perhaps?

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Seeline · 21/03/2017 09:30

My 12 and 15 yos are asking for iphones - the answer is still no!

They are both at indies so quite likely that when they say that everyone else has one, they are not too far of the truth, but tough. When they can afford to pay for their own phones they can have what they like.

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Buttercupsandaisies · 21/03/2017 10:19

Per month tho iPhones are similar to a smart phone

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ExplodedCloud · 21/03/2017 10:23

£18 is a chunk more than I pay for my phone.

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Wishiwasmoiradingle2017 · 21/03/2017 10:24

Dd knows she can't have a phone of any kind til secondary school. ..
Parenting decision made.
Without being questioned.

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Littleballerina · 21/03/2017 10:27

No phones until secondary school and even then no iPhone. Get her one that she can text and call on, nothing more.
Just a no should do!

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SnotGoblin · 21/03/2017 10:30

Parents giving in to the pressure is part of the problem in my view. If everyone said no then there would be one or two kids with iPhones and everyone else without them. Insert fashion item or tech item of your choice.

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Bloopbleep · 21/03/2017 10:35

A couple of kids in my dd(7)'s class have iPhones. I've said no to phones until at least double figures and even then it's unlikely to be an iPhone. What do young kids need iPhones for anyway?

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PatriciaHolm · 21/03/2017 10:39

Both of ours got phones at Christmas year 6, in prep for secondary, so at 11 and 10.5. DD has an old iPhone SE of ours, DS a second hand Samsung. Even now at secondary DDs is largely used for what's apping friends and homework. No need for one before now really, we live a 2 mins walk from their primary!

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chloesmumtoo · 21/03/2017 10:56

We allowed dd to have a phone on leaving primary school too. It was a necessity with her medical issues anyway for secondary school and being able to have her freedom with friends without me worrying.

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Wafflenose · 21/03/2017 10:59

Just say no! My 11 year old has a £2.99 phone from Tesco that she can text and call on, and we won't be buying her anything different. She only has that one because she occasionally goes away on residential music courses. If she wants a better phone, she can save up for it. Many adults don't have or need iphones (us included)!

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user1489666672 · 21/03/2017 11:09

I recently bought my 10 yo a Gator Watch and it's brilliant www.techsixtyfour.com It's basically a trackable watch/mobile phone. She has my number and my husbands number programmed into it and we can call her. I've got an app on my mobile so I can see where she is at all times. Obviously we don't let her go off on her own, she's only 10 but it's great when you're out for the day. She loves wearing it too which is a bonus!!

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elektrawoman · 21/03/2017 11:11

explodedcloud same here - £18 a month is a lot more than I pay....

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elektrawoman · 21/03/2017 11:17

buttercupsanddaisies We got DD an Alcatel smartphone - upfront cost was about £50, but you can also get it on a contract for about £7.50 a month. So less than half the price of the iphone contract.....

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kerrycolemanhome · 21/03/2017 11:30

I like the idea of a trackable watch! My son does have an iPhone but handed down from his father so no real cost involved, but to be honest, I wish I hadn't got him onto a phone because of all of the social media apps he is now on. How much was the Gator watch? Is it easy to set up?

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user1489666672 · 21/03/2017 11:38

That's one of the reasons why we bought it, I want to keep my daughter off social media for as long as possible... I know it will be impossible soon!
It's really easy to set up and it's £99 with a monthly service charge of £9.

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Bantam · 21/03/2017 11:43

That trackable watch sounds like an excellent idea - I wonder if it just uses a standard SIM? Also, how many phone numbers can it hold?

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Jvmh1978 · 21/03/2017 11:43

I like the sound of this watch, think my son would like wearing it too. Where do you buy them from and do they require SIM?

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