Home & Garden3 mins ago
Young children and mobile phones
19 Answers
I am pretty cross. My 7 yr old son came home from staying at his dad's for New Year - with a mobile phone and as pleased as punch. Despite me telling his dad many times to never buy him one as he is far too young,he totally ignored this and went ahead anyway. Apart from the health risks which I don;t know if justified but don't want to take the risk,he simply doesn't need one. His dad said it was just for txts but he has already called him on it,txt him,has got his work friends to call and txt him(???) and I am in 2 minds as to take it off him but then I would be mean old mummy. Any opinions on this??He is just 7 years old!!
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I wouldnt worry too much pink, my 8 year old got one from his Dad for his birthday but has no one to ring. He texts his Dad good night and thats about it. The novelty also soon wears off
As for his Dad, well, thats a different issue. I wouldnt bother saying anything to him because he will know how much he has annoyed you.
As for his Dad, well, thats a different issue. I wouldnt bother saying anything to him because he will know how much he has annoyed you.
This sounds like a control thing to me.
They have access to each other through you. If he wants to speak to his son I imagine he calls and you answer etc. This is now a direct channel of communication which excludes you.
I would imagine at some level this may be upsetting you.
My kids (a boy and a girl) are older and both got phones when they moved school at 11. They stopped using them pretty quickly left them lying around and quickly lost interest.
However in your case it's different because your ex is on the other end.
I'd not be too worried about the health risks, phones in the UK are much less powerfull than in the states and it's not like he's going to be spending hours on it.
If I were you I'd think very carefully about exactly what it is that's really upsetting you about this - and I'd not be too surprised to find it discarded at the bottom of a toy box in a months time anyway
They have access to each other through you. If he wants to speak to his son I imagine he calls and you answer etc. This is now a direct channel of communication which excludes you.
I would imagine at some level this may be upsetting you.
My kids (a boy and a girl) are older and both got phones when they moved school at 11. They stopped using them pretty quickly left them lying around and quickly lost interest.
However in your case it's different because your ex is on the other end.
I'd not be too worried about the health risks, phones in the UK are much less powerfull than in the states and it's not like he's going to be spending hours on it.
If I were you I'd think very carefully about exactly what it is that's really upsetting you about this - and I'd not be too surprised to find it discarded at the bottom of a toy box in a months time anyway
I bought my eight year old a phone last year and to be honest I've got no qualms about them for kids, as it means I can locate her at all times (I do always know where she is, but if she's in the grounds or at the bottom of the fields then it means I don't have to spend hours looking for her).
Likewise she can always get in touch with me if she needs to find me quickly.
She organises her social life with a lot more ease now as well since she has all her contacts at her fingertips and doesn't have to invade the computer to get people's numbers etc.
I'd leave him to it tbh as he'll either love it and use it in which case fine, or he'll grow bored and not in which case that's fine as well.
The issue I have is with your ex who went specifically against your insructions regarding the matter.He's the one I'd have a problem with.
Likewise she can always get in touch with me if she needs to find me quickly.
She organises her social life with a lot more ease now as well since she has all her contacts at her fingertips and doesn't have to invade the computer to get people's numbers etc.
I'd leave him to it tbh as he'll either love it and use it in which case fine, or he'll grow bored and not in which case that's fine as well.
The issue I have is with your ex who went specifically against your insructions regarding the matter.He's the one I'd have a problem with.
Hi Pink, So who is putting credit on the phone or is it contract, once the credit is gone and no-one puts credit back on or Ex cant keep up putting credit on etc or gets large bill from phone company or Son keeps sending texts at in-opportune times, I think ex could go off the idea very soon.
I hope I haven't been giving you any silly ideas here :-0 Perish the thought!!!!!!!!
I hope I haven't been giving you any silly ideas here :-0 Perish the thought!!!!!!!!
Hi all,and Happy New Year !!(hi forgetmenot!)
I don't have a problem whatsoever with him talking to his dad.Its the fact that my son had already asked me foe one and I said no,and asked his dad to not get one either s he was,I feel,too young,and he has no need as he goes everywhere with an adult anyway.My ex agreed,but then did the total opposite and bought it!
He has put �10 of credit on it (it is a pay-as-you go). He has also given the number to a couple of people he works with,who have also rang him,which I find very baffling.
I don't have a problem whatsoever with him talking to his dad.Its the fact that my son had already asked me foe one and I said no,and asked his dad to not get one either s he was,I feel,too young,and he has no need as he goes everywhere with an adult anyway.My ex agreed,but then did the total opposite and bought it!
He has put �10 of credit on it (it is a pay-as-you go). He has also given the number to a couple of people he works with,who have also rang him,which I find very baffling.
i think that 7 year olds are way too young to own mobile fones my 5 year old has asked for one already and not a chance i think the youngest should be 11 plus, his dad should have listened to you as you are his main carer theres many other things out there he could have bought him eg, nintendo ds, psp etc! i think you should maybe manage his use of the fone giving him set times to use it and in between this you should maybe find a place to hind it from him.
I would be furious in your situation PinkFizz. I bought my son a mobile when he was 11 because he was going to be travelling to a distant school (just in case he missed the bus etc.). But I gave him a big lecture on the possible dangers and told him that texting is OK, make calls only if necessary and keep them short and hold it away from his head while it is connecting (when the signal is strongest).
Also, it's PAYG and I control the credit.
My younger son (8) says he wants one as well but he doesn't need it and I tell him he can have one when he is 11.
RATTER's idea is good. If your ex is paying the bill you should make some VERY expensive international phone calls.
The fact is that nobody knows if there is a serious risk or not but I don't want to gamble on my children's health for no good reason. Remember, people thought smoking was good for you at one time and look how long it took to find out how dangerous that is!
Also, it's PAYG and I control the credit.
My younger son (8) says he wants one as well but he doesn't need it and I tell him he can have one when he is 11.
RATTER's idea is good. If your ex is paying the bill you should make some VERY expensive international phone calls.
The fact is that nobody knows if there is a serious risk or not but I don't want to gamble on my children's health for no good reason. Remember, people thought smoking was good for you at one time and look how long it took to find out how dangerous that is!
Happy new year Pinkfizz, I shouldnt worry too much. My eldest granddaughter was given a mobile phone from her dad, mum and dad not together same as yourself. My daughter said she wasnt to have one but it didn't stop him. This year he has bought her another one, put �10 credit as before. but as soon as it went my daughter wouldnt top it up. So now granddaughter has two phones but no credit.What a waste of money!!! she didnt bother with the first one because she had no credit and the same this time. Your son will soon get fedup with it. Brenda
Oh and Fizzy.... I'd suspect going on your previous posts about your ex is that he may possibly be trying to wind you up? I wouldn't rise to it.
Perhaps, you could have specific times when he is allowed to use the phone? That way he gets to keep it so you're not big bad mummy and you get to monitor when he's using it and who to. And your ex can't agree that this isn't sensible as you're just being a careful parent and you're not taking the phone from your son.
Might that help?
xx
Perhaps, you could have specific times when he is allowed to use the phone? That way he gets to keep it so you're not big bad mummy and you get to monitor when he's using it and who to. And your ex can't agree that this isn't sensible as you're just being a careful parent and you're not taking the phone from your son.
Might that help?
xx
Firstly the Pro's - The child can be contacted and can contact parents in an emergency should they be staying over at a friends house etc. or even god forbid get lost
Secondly the Con's - Chance of child using up all credit by use of text or premium rate numbers thus not leaving enough for emergencies. Or even if on a contract, the chances of huge bills each month are high
Therefore wouldn't it be better for these mobile phone companies to be able to sell special mobile phones where only about 5 certain numbers are stored on it (Mum, Dad, Mums work etc etc) and only those 5 numbers can be rung at anytime of the day and for any amount of time on the call. The parents would simply pay a cheap monthly subsription to the network provider. All other aspects of the phone are unavailable (Camera, Text, WAP, Games etc.)
This phone is purely an emergency phone!!!!
Secondly the Con's - Chance of child using up all credit by use of text or premium rate numbers thus not leaving enough for emergencies. Or even if on a contract, the chances of huge bills each month are high
Therefore wouldn't it be better for these mobile phone companies to be able to sell special mobile phones where only about 5 certain numbers are stored on it (Mum, Dad, Mums work etc etc) and only those 5 numbers can be rung at anytime of the day and for any amount of time on the call. The parents would simply pay a cheap monthly subsription to the network provider. All other aspects of the phone are unavailable (Camera, Text, WAP, Games etc.)
This phone is purely an emergency phone!!!!
I really disagree with giving a child so young a mobile phone. At that age I fail to see why a child would ever have a need for a mobile phone, surely they would always be with a responsible adult. I feel it also makes that child particularly vulnerable to criminals who will see a child of 7 or 8 as an easy target.
Another aspect for me is the fact that items such as mobile phones are not cheap, especially as you have to keep puttiing money on them/paying bills for them which the child will never see. I think children should learn to earn luxurys like mobile phones which goes hand in hand with the value of money and if it's just been handed to them with a promise of the bills being paid, they won't learn how to appreciate the finer things in life.
Another aspect for me is the fact that items such as mobile phones are not cheap, especially as you have to keep puttiing money on them/paying bills for them which the child will never see. I think children should learn to earn luxurys like mobile phones which goes hand in hand with the value of money and if it's just been handed to them with a promise of the bills being paid, they won't learn how to appreciate the finer things in life.
Buy him a new sim card with a new number and dont give your ex the new number!!! Or you could teach your son to turn off his phone when its not being used that way your son is not get called or txt messages at silly times. Play your ex at his own game! Seriously though I would be concerned that your ex is encouraging his workmates to ring your son.
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