Help......First X-Mas Tiff

[jakally]

I've just found out that my missus has bought my 8-y-o daughter a mobile phone for Christmas.

I have always thought that 8 is too young to have a mobile.
I am not quite sure why I think this, and, having thought about it, I am not sure what the right age is.

The added complication is that the wife has got her mum+dad to pay for this and is therefore a present from them (i.e. if we take it back we will need to explain this to the out-laws).

Would like some views / advice, particularly if you have kids or young relatives (with or without phones!!).

Jak.

[Graham C]

I don't like them for children.  You hear stories about crime revolving around mobiles which would worry me a bit.  Also, why does a child that young need to be making calls from a mobile?  They hardly need to be making calls at all surely?

On the plus side, if they ever do need it in an emergency, they are very handy.

My little girl is only two so I don't have to worry about it yet thankfully.  Ideally, I'd like to see her wait until she was in her teens at least.

[RED-DOG]

I think the right age for children to have moble phones is whatever age you allow them to go out without your supervision. My yougest was 13 when she got her first phone.

[ACE2M]

i'm against phones for children that young.

but am aware of the pressure from children to get what they want.

if you google 'parental mobile phone guides' there are services that can add a lot more control to it.

[Royal Flush]

Seems mad to me

[Tonji]

My daughter was allowed to have a mobile this year when she started secondary school, shes allowed me to pay her monthly bills  its worth it for that extra peace of mind.

[scottm]

I'm currently having the same "discussion" with my sister who wants to get a mobile for her 9 year old son. He in turn has told my daughter that hes getting a mobile and now my 6 year old wants a mobile too  

I'm firmly in the "don't be so silly" camp.

Got to agree with RED -DOG,  once they are going out without supervision, then they might need one. Until then they don't need a mobile.  

[charmaine]

8 and 9 seems way to young to me , bought my 14 yr old his first mobile for his birthday in November , he may not have credit all the time but atleast i can shout down the phone when he's 5 minutes late getting in 

[brummieboy]

My 8 year old son wants one and i've told him no.

Finally gave in to my daughter last year and let her have one when she was 12 which I still think is too young.

She misplaces it all the while and I've found it down the back of the couch a couple of times.

I bet your nipper will loose it within two months, who wants to give me odds.

[lazaroonie]

we have just had a major row - my missus was writing cards, and asked me how to spell part of an address - Mungo. I replied that FFS surely you know how to spell Mungo, its only got 5 letters. So as a joke I said "M-O-N-G-O". Then when I went into the lounge, saw she had actually written that. I fell about the place laughing, but she didnt see the funny side....

tune in tomorrow for more domestic comedy....

[charmaine]

Me and Paul are betting on how long it takes son William (15)  to sell/swap his , he's getting one for christmas  ;bat;

[booder]

we have just had a major row - my missus was writing cards, and asked me how to spell part of an address - Mungo. I replied that FFS surely you know how to spell Mungo, its only got 5 letters. So as a joke I said "M-O-N-G-O". Then when I went into the lounge, saw she had actually written that. I fell about the place laughing, but she didnt see the funny side....

tune in tomorrow for more domestic comedy....

 

[charmaine]

we have just had a major row - my missus was writing cards, and asked me how to spell part of an address - Mungo. I replied that FFS surely you know how to spell Mungo, its only got 5 letters. So as a joke I said "M-O-N-G-O". Then when I went into the lounge, saw she had actually written that. I fell about the place laughing, but she didnt see the funny side....

tune in tomorrow for more domestic comedy....

[Ginger]

My daughter was allowed to have a mobile this year when she started secondary school, shes allowed me to pay her monthly bills  its worth it for that extra peace of mind.

Same here, When my daughter started secondary school she got a mobile, and when my son starts this September he'll get one too. Mainly because that is when the usually start getting a little bit of freedom (and I mean a LITTLE) and also they both walk to and from school.

IMO, 8 is just way too young

[jakally]

Thanks for the replies so far people.

The night is still young.

  on sale at the front door................wish me luck!!

Jak