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

[EllieMumsnet]

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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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An older handset passed down makes sense. We don't wreck our devices in our house. So they're in good condition. Though i would take extra precautions to lock down what the smartphone can do.

For us, this was some time ago, before many features were added. Initially, just buy a cheap one. One son accidentally dropped his down the loo!

My oldest didn't get a phone until she started secondary school. We got her a pay as you go and she uses it for when after school clubs are cancelled or if she is late.

We’ve used hand-me-down phones as first phones, and have bought refurbished ones as replacements. We gave them to them when they started being left at places without us staying eg extra curricular activities.

Not bought, they get hand me downs. They know that we have full access to their phones whenever we want. They are both still young though so we don't have calls enabled at the moment it's just for web browsing.

Do NOT splash out on an expensive smart phone ... they WILL break it !
ALWAYS insist the use a protective case & screen cover
My twins were promised phones when the started high school. When they were at primary I was amazed at the number of kids with 3,4 or £500 phones walking into school. They had to leave them in a box in reception & were not allowed them back until home time.

We got them phones when they were 11 and starting at secondary school. TBH it was only my daughter that made any use of it that young. Both the boys had them, but they were relatively untouched until they were two or three years older. We just bought basic smartphones at first on pay as you go.

We use hand me down phones so it doesn't matter if they are broken.
We also make sure they they and any other electronics are put in a box for bedtime or family time.

mobiles are essential to keeping your children safe and always contactable

i had many concerns, the cost, it being broken or stolen, him not being responsible with it etc etc.

We ended up buying him a mid-range phone that was not the cheapest but not the most expensive to see how he went with it, it turned out he was really good and only used it for emergencies and for a bit of texting with friends as he was pay as you go to start.

Now he is on contract and its great, he always looks out for the best deals and doesnt run up huge bills, so we are glad now we took the plunge when he was younger and trusted him.

My son is turning 11 soon and we'll be getting him his first proper phone then. Think we will get a smartphone but either refurbished or an unknown brand. He's not great at keeping things new so this will be a good step to helping him be responsible for something of his own. Probably a contract sim £10 a month...

One of ours has just got his first mobile phone because I upgraded mine and it seems like the appropriate time to hand me down my old one. With him starting to get more independent I feel like he needs some understanding of the world around him and to stay safe. I have put on parental restrictions and have told him the do's and do nots and also regularly check what he's up to. I think it now comes down to trust and faith.

I think they need to learn to budget so my older kids all have pay as you go and these are topped up each month and when they use their data allowance then it just stops until the next top up and they now know t watch their usage. My 8 year old is getting one for Christmas but it has strict parental settings to hopefully stop any unwanted results from searching and also withhold any number withheld calls

DS is 10, secondary next year. He's getting his first proper phone for Christmas - my old iPhone with a new battery. Contract deal with o2 on friends and family discount only works out at £8 a month, so not breaking the bank. We went with o2 because of the discount and because of the Qustodio app, which comes free with their account.

Just give the my old one when I replace my phone.

I am not in a hurry to give my dd her first mobile. There are a few in the same classroom that already have one but they provoke a lot of trouble in terms of distractions. I would like to wait until she is 12 ideally

as soon as possible - don't delay the technology revolution

Putting this off as long as possible but when we finally do it will probably be a hand me down from me when my contract runs out

i have 3 children aged 5, 18 and 19 . My children havent had mobiles until they were at high school, and then we bought quite basic phones as i didnt trust them not to loose them. After a while my children saved up and bought the make and model of phone they wanted

I got my eldest daughter a basic smartphone when she turned 11. She's not too fussed by it and luckily doesn't spend all her spare time on it. I've not let her get whatsapp yet or instagram etc which I think helps keep her off it. I would be happy to buy her a refurbished phone if they're checked thoroughly.

A contract which can include how the phone ultimately belongs to the parents, how the parent will have access to all passwords related to the phone and apps on the phone, the hours the phone can be on and off, how it will be charged overnight in a centralized charging area that is not in the child's bedroom, and what happens if the family's phone rules are not followed.
The contract can really help parents figure out what their plan is surrounding the phone, which is crucial.

I have allowed children over 9 a basic phone that can make calls and text purely for safety reasons if they need to contact me. If I am honest I am rather old fashioned regarding phones and resent that I am forced to have one and pay extra money because it is hard to be part of the world if you opt out. My eldest son got himself a phone in secondary school and has always managed it sensibly.

On moving up to secondary school, a dumb phone not a smartphone.