Children and mobile phones

[lis351]

Mr11 was telling me today how another student in his class (grade 5/6) was in trouble for receiving a text message in class. In truth, she was probably more in trouble for having her phone on and volume on, rather than receiving the actual message.

But I was wondering, how many 10/11 year olds are carrying mobile phones these days?? And what age would you think it appropriate??

I had not thought to give my kids a phone at this stage, even though they walk to and from school and take bikes/scooters to local parks without my immediate supervision.

[lis351]

I could control it on the computer... I cant on the phone!

I know its a bit different, but we control everything that goes onto the ipods. I have the password for itunes, so any apps/purchases go through me, and Hubs locked them off the internet except for game play.

[*crikey*mate*]

I had  Rhianna album on my iPad and iPhone. The kids have iPads for school, but the content on them is monitored very heavily by the school. The Rhianna Album showed up on Middle Crikey's iPad. He deleted it, but it went on there again! He didn't realize it had gone back and he got busted with it at school.

The poor kid got detention....

Spoiler

I didn't actually feel too bad LOL - cos all his Bible music somehow gets onto my iPad etc LOL

[dskracing]

Lis...K got hers at 10, purely for calling me after riding...make sure you have prepaid...I found out the hard way after a huge bill and know the password of the phone.

Miss K is nearly 17 now and hardly ever uses it anymore apart from taking pics

[azureline**]

Not off topic and probably relevant to the use of phones by teens?

http://givenbreath.com/2013/09/03/fyi-if-youre-a-teenage-girl/

[daydream**believer]

Kids are not allowed to have their mobiles with them during school time at my kids school. They must be handed in to the front office in the morning and collected in the afternoon.

My kids are 12, 10 and 2. None of mobiles because they dont go anywhere without me or my husband with them.

I copped quite fine without a mobile until i was 30 years old.

[kitty-kat1234]

I think in today's world kids need phones.
Our kiddies get one when they go to high school,DD is 11 going into high school next yr & will get hers for christmas.
Pre-paid is the way to go plus we only really text each other,keeps the cost down,I only ring them if I really need to.
1 catches a bus (other will next year as well) & if I'm going to be late to pick him up or he needs to get off at another stop its easy to contact him.
The older ones have been really good with what credit they get as they chat more on line.

I just don't feel comfortable sending the young ones to the park or such without me being unable to contact them or them me.
Three went for a scooter ride & one had a bad crash, skin off everywhere,they rang me & i was there in minutes.The world has changed...........sadly

[daydream**believer]

how has it changed?

I used to go bike riding with my friends all weekend from age 8 up. None of us had phones and we survived.

[crystal**flake]

With smart phones the way they are now I wouldn't be giving mine one until they turned 16.

[azureline**]

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@daydream**believer wrote:

how has it changed?

I used to go bike riding with my friends all weekend from age 8 up. None of us had phones and we survived.

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do you allow yours to do this? and if not, why don't you?

[*crikey*mate*]

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@kitty-kat1234 wrote:
I think in today's world kids need phones.
Our kiddies get one when they go to high school,DD is 11 going into high school next yr & will get hers for christmas.
Pre-paid is the way to go plus we only really text each other,keeps the cost down,I only ring them if I really need to.
1 catches a bus (other will next year as well) & if I'm going to be late to pick him up or he needs to get off at another stop its easy to contact him.
The older ones have been really good with what credit they get as they chat more on line.

I just don't feel comfortable sending the young ones to the park or such without me being unable to contact them or them me.
Three went for a scooter ride & one had a bad crash, skin off everywhere,they rang me & i was there in minutes.The world has changed...........sadly

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kitty, some companies allow free calls and texts between some mobiles with the same providor. The three kids and I are all hooked up to this. I'm not on prepaid, but the kids all are, same company though.