Mobile Phones

[BrandonsMum08]

At what age do you think it is suitable or at least acceptable for a child to have a mobile phone?

Heres my little moan about it...

OH's daughter has just turned 6 years old and has been given a mobile by her mums family. I personally think she is far too young and it is completely unnecessary for her to have one! The couple of times she has been round here with it, it has driven me potty!! Not only does she always want to phone home, just for the sake of using the phone, but its making Brandon whinge alot because he cant have it and its pretty much waved about in his face all day. Phoning home when its needed or really wanted, we'd let her do from our phones, but dont you agree that several times a day just talking about what shes watched on tv is unnecessary?!
To top it off, she forgot to take it home on Saturday morning and then her mum expected OH to drop it off round there which is a 20min drive away. The way we see it is, it is not his responsibility to remember to take it back when she goes home. If she wants to bring it round, then she must remember to take it home. If she forgets, then it is her mums responsibility to come and pick it up if they want it back before Faith is next round here. If it was something like clothing or school homework then yes, OH would take it back round there. When we got home we looked for it, and we couldnt even find it and had OHs ex hassling us to bring it back when Faith couldnt even remember where she last put it! (it ended up being down the back of the sofa). He is dropping it round tonight on his way home from work to save anymore hassle as she has now started phoning OHs mum!!

Do you think OH has every right to say he doesnt want her to bring it round anymore? And that if they need to be contacted, Faith can do it from one of our phones.

[artyfartymack counting down the hours till bedtime]

I see absolutly no need for any child to have a mobile phone. Certainly not a child who does not go out alone. Even then I was taught to use a payphone and reverse the charges if there was an emergency and if my son or daughter was out and about and desperatly needed to get hold of me then that is what I would expect them to do. Thomas will not be getting a mobile until he is a teenager.

[Schmushe]

This is our current situation, as Josh who is also 6 wants a mobile. We have decided that he shouldnt have it until he can be a bit more responsible and who would he call anyway which he couldnt use the home phone???
Also, theres the added factor of mis-using it, dialling things he shouldnt, and who would pay for it - certainly not me!!
I dont think children should have mobiles till at least 10, when they are out and about a bit more, I know once Josh goes out more on his own / with friends, I like to be able to know where he is, and payphones are becoming a bit obsolete!!
Maybe set her some ground rules at your house, that she can have it if she needs it, otherwise it goes on the side - you dont want one of the LO's to grab it and damage it after all!! LOL

[XxjacksmummyxX]

I think children could have a phone from about 12 possibly? Def dont need one before that i feel.
If they arent with you, at a friends house etc, they can easily contact you from there, and vice versa to call you from there.

[lea-angel]

I don't think that a child has any need for a mobile phone until they are at the age in which they are allowed to leave the house on their own...

Charli has also asked for one, and she was met with a resounding no! She is far too young, has no proper need for it, and if she wants to call someone, then she may use my phone to do so. She often asks to use my phone to call Andrew, or a family member, or a friend from Witham, which I will generally allow, but I don't feel this warrants her having her own mobile phone.


I have to say though that while I understand it may be annoying, I do think that your partner is responsible for ensuring she takes home everything that she came with. It's really not that much effort to check that she has everything with her... I know how frustrtaing I find it when Charli returns home from Andrew's with something missing that she went with. I don't want to offend, but it really isn't that difficult to check she has everything before taking her home.

I guess it is within your partners' 'rights' to say that he would rather she didn't bring it round. If she still brings it, then it can be confiscated until she goes home?

[janew]

My guys got 'phones when they started to travel home by themselves from school, one year 7 (11 going on 12), one year 6 (10). Absolutely no need otherwise.

[Brettsgirl]

I, too, agree that 6 is far too young. She is always going to be with an adult which means that if she ever needed to ring her mum then she can.

I would say 10/12 would be an acceptable age. They are old enough to be out on their own and are responsible enough to have one.

[Jenn]

I agree with Lea (and others who said it too) when a child starts going places on their own.

I think you have every right to say that she should not bring it to your house.

When we go to District run Scout Camps - mobile phone are not allowed. They are often too much hassle and if a child wants to phone home - they only need to ask. On our own camps - we allow them but we are very strict about when we see them and when we don't! (aged 10-14)