mobile phone for 10 yr old during summer hols?

[chinadoll]

with the holidays just begun and my daughter going out to play with her friends....am wondering if it would be a good idea to get her a mobile phone so that we can keep in contact with her and her with us during the time she is out of our sight....are any abers doing this already? if so, how has it gone?

thanks.

[Loosehead]

Did you have one when you where 10? How did you communicate with your parents at that age? Thought so!

[Emily Ball]

I agree with Loosehead. We managed perfectly well without mobile phones when we were children. Having a mobile phone won't make your child any safer and if the need arose, she could always use the phone of a friend's parents. I think it would be far better to get to know your little girl's friends' parents and come to a friendly arrangement whereby they look out for your daughter and you look out for their children when they are out to play. 10 year olds can't be relied upon not to lose or switch off their phones and it's not unknown for older children to mug them for their mobiles either.

[pixi]

My 13 year old got a mobile about 2 xmas ago.  But from the age of 8 he wanted one.  We refused thinking it a waste of money and that we'd be putting credit on it all the time.  But since he got one we find it invaluable.  He mainly puts his own credit on but every month or so ill put a fiver on it for him.  I have found i have a lot more peace of mind and can ring him whenever i need to (much to his dismay and embarrassment) There seems to be a lot more evil and weird people around than when i was young, so i would say go ahead and get her one. Why not just buy a cheap one and check you can put credit on in multiples of �5, (quite a few only let you put a minimum of �10)

[JulieEve]

chinadoll - my 10 yr old sounds like yours... in that she has discovered a bit of independence and likes to go out with her friends now.  It gives us complete peace of mind to know that she has her phone with her at all times.  We know where she is - and can pick her up at any time.  She uses it sensibly and as far as I am concerned it is a vital means of communication.  

[Cheekyteddy]

It is a convenience thing as well as a safety thing. My 7 year old girl has a mobile. It is not a toy and she is sensible with it.

If mobiles had been around I would have had one. Also we live in a different world now. When I was young (here we go I hear you all sigh) the neighbours would all look out for the kids. These days they don't even know who lives in the street and most of the residents only ever come out to shout abuse at the kids for kicking footballs, riding bikes or playing with skipping ropes.

[twiglet4frog]

there are health warnings for under 16's using mobiles and are recommended they txt rather than call to keep them away from their heads.

[phl666]

My 7 year old boy and 11 year old girl usually take a walkie talkie with them when they play out somewhere out of sight. They aren't that expensive (try Argos), and free to use.

[sunflower68]

Chinadoll I'm in the same boat really.  It's just for peace of mind when they are out on the green.  I haven't bought phones (my eldest is only 7 this month) but when I need them to come and tell me what they are up to, I need a device to get them in.......I even thought of a loud whistle or a set of pagers.  Can you still buy them?

Sorry I'm no help!

[Peri]

My 11 year old got a hand me down phone last year.  This is a very different world we live in now and I dont think can be compared with when we were young.  I find it handy to be able to contact her.  She always has it switched on and if she needs to be collected at all she can get me very easily.  My 8 year old is asking for one but she wont get one yet.  She still stays at home or at her friends so does not need it as yet.

[FP]

Lots of things were different when we were young.  I pesonally did without a television, my parents didn't have a car, we didn't have a telephone, or a fridge or a washing machine, etc.    The world has changed.  I don't think it is a more dangerous place (there have always been bad and dangerous people around - we just hear about it more these days), but it is nice if  olderchildren can be contacted if they are out and about.

Personally,  I would not let a seven or eight year old play out of my sight unless they were going to friends and I knew the parents, but at nine or ten a cheap pay as you go mobile is a good idea, as long as it is used responsibly.  

[Le Chat]

You do realise that it will probably be lost within the week anyway....

[madham]

I have just given my 9 year old (who is nearly ten) my old phone now he has started calling for his friends, but he has it for emergencies and I only allow �10 a month, if he uses it to ring all and sundrie and it runs out he is not allowed to go further than the end of the street.