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Mumsnet users discuss getting their child’s first mobile phone with musicMagpie

289 replies

EllieMumsnet · 05/12/2018 11:50

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Buying your child their first mobile phone can feel like a big milestone; it’s one of their first steps to becoming a little more independent. With so many different types of phones out there and with a lot of information to sift through on when and how to go about getting your DC their first phone, whether you hand them down their siblings old one, buy a refurbished phone or even get a new one, musicMagpie would love to know your tips, experiences and thoughts on buying your child their first phone.

Here’s what musicMagpie has to say: “With the latest smartphones costing up to £1,000 or more each year, it’s not feasible for many families to be able to afford the latest Tech. You can still get your kids great quality phones without the hefty bill when you buy certified refurbished mobile phones from musicMagpie. You can literally save hundreds of pounds! For example, you could pay £449 for a brand new iPhone 7 or you could save over £170 for a very good condition iPhone 7 with musicMagpie. It’s not just the price – all of our phones comes with a 12 month warranty and go through a thorough 70 point check to make sure they’re in full working order. Here’s how we refurbish our phones. Keep the kids happy and save money… why wouldn’t you?”

What age did you decide to give your child their first phone? Or was it more about them starting secondary school or walking places by themselves that was the deciding factor? Have you/did you ever consider getting them a second hand/refurbished phone? If you did was it a hand-me-down phone from yourself or did you purchase a refurbished one? How did decide which phone was best and what type of package did you get e.g. pay-as-you-go or contract? Have you put any rules in place surrounding the use of their phone? Do you have any tips on where to shop for their first phone?

Whatever your thoughts, tips and/or experiences are, comment them on the thread below and all MNers that do will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

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Mumsnet users discuss getting their child’s first mobile phone with musicMagpie
OP posts:
Screamingeels · 09/12/2018 08:37

When DD was 10 we ran out of excuses for why she couldn't have a mobile.

We bought her a refurbished Samsung 4 as its a phone we knew having had one previously.

I was keen to get a refurb with a guarentee so yes it came from magpie mobile.

She is on a 1p payg contract and she doesnt use data so has spent £7 in 4 months.

In retrospect giving her a phone at primary alliows us to put rules and expectations in place (careful what you buy, careful who you talk to, phone downstairs hour before bed). Before temptations of secondary school and social media.

Byrdie · 09/12/2018 08:58

My 11 year old is getting one this week but we've decided, on advice of her school (general advice to all not specifically directed at us!) that she won't get a sim yet, or any social media apps, no snapchat lor whatsapp. We'll restrict it to only apps we've agreed to download, only an hour wifi and it'll be locked in a box overnight as well as no allowed at school yet. When she moves to secondary we'll have to change some of these rules (and get her a sim card).

So basically it's a phone she can play games on! It's probably going to be ised to message her best friend - she's only going to have the imessage option on text for that as she's not getting the sim yet. I think she feels it's so important to have so she can save face with her friends and say she has a phone. I just want her to get over the novelty of having a device before she goes to secondary.

KittyKat88 · 09/12/2018 10:08

My oldest DD aged 8 has a Monqui phone which I was fortunate enough to receive via a Mumsnet product test. She loves using it and it is safe to use because I can monitor what she does on it. She doesn't often get to take it outside the house because she's too young to go out without an adult but in another year's time it will be more useful as I anticipate her having more independence.

lovemyflipflops · 09/12/2018 11:45

What age did you decide to give your child their first phone?

at 10.

Or was it more about them starting secondary school or walking places by themselves that was the deciding factor?

when independence was needed in readiness for secondary school. Getting the bus home alone fro school.

Have you/did you ever consider getting them a second hand/refurbished phone? If you did was it a hand-me-down phone from yourself or did you purchase a refurbished one?

I bought a second hand one, which if lost was not a disaster, which I thought was reasonable, DD was told however, if it was lost, it would not be replaced. It was never lost, and proved invaluable when a bus pass was lost and he needed picking up from school.

How did decide which phone was best and what type of package did you get e.g. pay-as-you-go or contract?

I bought a £7.50 per month contract sim. - great value.

Have you put any rules in place surrounding the use of their phone?

Don't let anyone else use it, never at the table during meals, and keep it charged.

Do you have any tips on where to shop for their first phone?

Second hand - if its lost or damaged it's not the end of the world, it will give them responsibility and confidence, for growing up.

sheepsheep · 09/12/2018 12:14

DD is almost 10 so we have decided to get her a phone for Christmas this year. It was a hard decision because I do still feel that she is too young, but she walks home from school now, she occasionally has sleepovers and she is going on a residential trip in a few months so it is reaching a point where I want to be able to contact her at times to organise pick ups and that kind of thing.

I also think it will be good to navigate having a phone while she is in Primary school and we are familiar with her circle of friends, rather than waiting until secondary and facing the unknown.

Phone wise, we have got her a smartphone for just under £100, and it will be pay as you go. I don't want to be stuck in a contract if she breaks the phone or it gets lost or stolen.

There will be a set of ground rules that I will actually write up and print so that she is clear on what is and isn't allowed.

anitagreen · 09/12/2018 16:56

My kids are to young for them atm but when they are older around 11 they will get a phone but a basic one until they can prove they can be trusted with a smartphone. And even then I truly do wonder what technology will be like as we're talking 10 years away

WowOoo · 09/12/2018 18:01

My son got his when just before he started secondary school. It was a hand me down.
The rules are that it is primarily for contacting us in case of emergencies. It's a bit of a battle already - he plays games on it and has been known to sneak it away from the charger when I'm not looking.

springlike · 09/12/2018 19:20

DS1 was 11 when he got his 1st phone, went for pay monthly contract with Tesco (added to my bill). DS2 is now 11and I'm planning getting his 1st phone for Xmas, again probably adding to my bill. At the moment for 2 phones I pay £24 monthly. Will plan around £12 for DS2s phone. Absolutely do not see any point in spending loads of money on something, when they basically all do the same, and will probably get lost / cracked screen etc. I think it's important that they have them by Year 7 - mine will be travelling on public transport to and from school and I feel happier that they have a way to contact me if necessary. Fortunately their school is strict and does not allow phones out during the school day, which suits me fine. Means they actually have to talk to each other! Perfect! Phones are kept downstairs overnight too, and I check them when I want to. I am very aware of the numerous issues youngters get into with mobile phones and don't think most parents check them enough.

Bebe03 · 09/12/2018 20:51

Planning on giving my son his first phone when he hits year eight, will limit and monitor usage with a lot of education around internet etc.

FlipFlapBat · 09/12/2018 21:08

I always get myself a refurbished phone and actually got my last one from a Music Magpie. I normally get from another online store but they didn’t have the phone I wanted. I always get the Grade A (or Pristine as it’s called on MM) but did find that perhaps my normal retailer that I get phones from are fussier on grading as the iPhone X I received did have fine scratches to the screen and a scuff on the side. It wasn’t pristine but I didn’t want to pay to return it or wait a week for my refund (over £800) when I needed the phone. Other phones I’ve brought refurbished (elsewhere) have been immaculate and MM wouldn’t be my first choice to buy from again.

DD is 6 and has a very old iPhone 5c with no SIM, just connected to WiFi. She just has it mainly for the camera but is occasionally allowed to watch YouTube or Netflix on it if we are out; it’s easier for me to slip in my bag than an iPad. It was brought as a Grade A refurbished phone originally but then was well used by DH before he upgraded and was just left in a drawer for ages before she found it and asked to use it. Normally we give our old phones away or trade them in but never bothered with that one as it was pretty tatty and nobody wanted it when we offered it free to family!

FlipFlapBat · 09/12/2018 21:20

Oh and not sure about the 70 point check on phones including battery health as my phone had a battery health of 91% which I didn’t think was great for the latest model (at the time, it’s an iPhone X purchased about 6 months ago) with condition graded as pristine. Obviously only saw that after loading all my data on and urgently needing a phone so I’ll live with it. Just feel this thread is promoting phones that won’t live up to reality if people buy them for DC as a Christmas gift.

I do think I will wait until my DC are in year six before they have a SIM in their phones but do think they are a very portable and easy alternative to iPads before then.

flowersfromheaven · 09/12/2018 21:55

I let both my children have mobiles when they was about 11 years of age I didn't let them have internet on their phones until they was about 15 years old, and when they wanted to have the latest phone I always got them as presents for birthdays or Christmas.

AlliKaneErikson · 10/12/2018 00:14

DS has his when he started Secondary School. He had an old phone of mine (an old iPhone model) and was going to go on a pay as you go sim but we decided to get him a monthly contract (the cheapest possible!) for his 11th birthday, which was the end of August. All of his friends had had a phone for ages and communicated using them. His school allows them to be used in some circumstances. He’s been very careful with it so far and I’m not worried about him damaging it. He doesn’t use social media and doesn’t take his phone into his bedroom in the evenings.
I’m a bit shocked that a number of DD’s friends have had brand new iPhones for their 9th birthdays (because they had everything else!!!).

Kaykay06 · 10/12/2018 00:22

My son got my old iPhone 5 when he started high school, all his friends had new fancy phones but he was quite happy with his and wasn’t bothered that it wasn’t the latest model got a screen protector though and cover in case he dropped it

Spices001 · 10/12/2018 06:59

DD is sensible with her phone, we waited until she started secondary school, there’s no social media , her choice & no phones at meals or after 8pm.
We got a 2nd Hand phone but so far she’s looked after it anyway

glenka · 10/12/2018 07:24

We would only get the most basic mobile phone for them and it was under the strict instructions that they would only use it in an emergency.

ChocolateCake1 · 10/12/2018 07:25

For me it’s important to have the right protection on phones. I installed software that allowed me to log on and see what websites had been accessed and get alerts as well as taking being able to block certain content. It allows use of a mobile phone while I have some peace of mind.

TracyKNixon · 10/12/2018 07:31

If your child only needs a phone for emergencies then a simple one will do. Any smartphone will have access to the internet so consider how long your child is likely to spend using it and how you manage their online safety. Smartphones are also a target for thieves and can be easily dropped and broken so it’s wise to consider buying insurance!

BellaNewcomb · 10/12/2018 07:39

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Bellroyd · 10/12/2018 07:40

Wait until they are sufficiently mature to use it properly and initially at least, don't give them internet access unsupervised.

Also, make them pay their own bill by working around the house.

TiggersAngel7774 · 10/12/2018 08:06

My son has had a phone for 2 years now. We have him on rolling sim contract with £5 buffer so no unexpected big bills. He feels grown up and we know he can ring or text family when he wants to

finleypop · 10/12/2018 08:13

We gave our son an old phone with a very cheap sim card when he was 10, so that when he was playing out, I felt that we could contact each other if needed.

devito92 · 10/12/2018 08:18

1st mobile should be a basic model on a pay as u go sim that way they can't run up a huge bill

Elizasmum02 · 10/12/2018 08:30

i think for the first phone it should be expensive one until they get used to using it at the end of the day everyone drops thier phone, kids more so so for the first phone it should be stury and cheap

frances93 · 10/12/2018 08:50

DD is too young for a phone for a few years yet, however I do often think of how times have changed around phone usage and kids since Ive grown up and how its bound to change when DD is old enough.
I would want a phone that is very limited to what it can do, calling texting is great but the internet is a scary thing and Id want either no internet or I would set strict limits on it