mobile phones

[alicecooper]

Just out of curiosity :

1) how old were you when you first got a mobile phone?

2) how old do you think your child will be when you get them their first mobile phone?

3) WHY have you decided on that age (for question 2)?


I was 16 when I first got a mobile phone. I was allowed to go into town from the age of 12 on the bus with friends (and was going to different cities with friends on the train when I was 13, not miles away I mean like the next city, to go ice skating or whatever), but I would just use a phone box and ring my mam and tell her what time I was coming home. But that's because mobile phones weren't exactly commonplace when I was 12 or 13.

My mam did have a huge brick phone and I used to borrow it when I was 13 when I was babysitting for peoples kids, so I could phone her and ask her to pick me up when I finished babysitting.

I think I'll be getting phones for my kids from the age when I allow them to take the bus or train somewhere like I did when I was younger, maybe from about 12 or so, because relying on phone boxes in this day and age seems daft. But I'll not be allowing them to use one willy nilly to contact friends. I know all too well how quickly kids/teens use up their credit and/or run up humongous phone bills! There'll be limits on the phones, and they'll only be given them when they leave the house. Inside the house I see no need for a kid to have a mobile phone.

I also see no need for a kid to have a smart phone. All this "sexting" stuff that I keep hearing about is really worrying. I'd like to think my kids are more sensible than that, but really when it comes to peer pressure you just don't know really.

A basic no frills phone to call home if they are out (or for me to contact them) is all they need as far as I'm concerned. And only when they're old enough to need one.

So what about you guys? Is it something you've thought about?

 

[seoj]

I was 25 when I got mine- yup! LOL. I'm also 39yrs old though- so they were not "all the rage" when I was a kid- unless your parents had a car phone! haha.

My SD got her's at 10yrs- ONLY because when she'd visit her bio-Mom, we couldn't trust her to allow her to call us (there were issues in the past because of this) and we wanted my SD to feel safe being there overnights again. She didn't have overnights for about 2yrs prior.

I would prob get my LO a cell phone when we feel she is old enough and mature enough to start being left at home alone for a short bit of time- as we don't have a land line. I figure any younger, and I'll know where she is, who she's with and how to get a hold of her- well, we still know all that with my SD and she's 15 now Cell phone or not- and now we have an app on her phone so we can see where she is and visa versa. Just in case.

btw- our oldest JUST got a smartphone- because my MIL got a new one and had a perfectly good iPhone 4 she didn't need. So we got it for free- and with my SD learning to drive, and going off on her own in about 4mos- we figured it would be good for her to have for directions and us tracking her buahaha. Until then, she just had a very basic decent phone- whatever was free or cheap.

 

[housewifey]

I'm snooping this section (I only have a toddler) However I have already thought about this!

I got my first phone when I was 12 too, for similar reasons to what you mentioned (sleepovers and going to different town etc) However I was given £10 top-up a month and if it ran out before the month was over, I was forced to go without. End of.

This will be the same for my daughter, when she is old enough for a phone (around 12 I'm hoping) she will get a no frills phone and given a limit per month to use.

if she wants a fancy smartphone with internet etc she will have to wait until she's 16 and has her own job to pay for it.

 

[RachA]

I can't remember how old I was when I got my first phone - I'm going to guess around 18 as I don't remember having one until I was working.

As for my children. The earliest will be when they start secondary school. Before the they won't be going out on their own as such. They will obviously go to friends houses etc but I would arrange a time for collection before leaving them or else ask the parents if they can use their phone.
I don't see the need for a smart phone either at that age. Unless there just happens to be a good deal on one then we will just buy a bog standard phone.

 

[mummy3]

I think I was 17 when I got my first one to take to uni lol.

My daughter will be getting one pretty soon (she's 8) because she's shown she's mature enough for the responsibility I didnt have a set age, more when I think they'll appreciate the responsibilty but certainly wont be a fancy phone!

 

[SerenityNow]

I don't think I had a mobile phone until I was over 30. I still rarely give the number out to people because I forget it at home half the time and I'd hate for people to be under the impression that they could actually get ahold of me. Lol

My eldest is 12 and she won't be getting her own phone anytime soon. We have a prepaid that is the extra phone and she takes it with her if she is going somewhere on her own. She bikes to school and to some of her lessons and I want her to call me when she arrives. But she doesn't think of it as her phone. She can't call or text her friends with it.

I think this is an area where I am more old fashioned than most parents but in mind it is more important for her to have a watch and be where she is supposed to be when she is supposed to be there than it is for her to have a phone so I can get ahold of her no matter where she is, especially at her age.

 

[RachA]

Serenity-I like the idea of a spare phone that anyone can use.
We always have old phones at home because OH and I both are on contracts. I think we might do this as the kids get older. And then once they've proved they aren't going to use all the credit texting etc then we will get them a phone of their own.
Thanks for the idea

 

[suzib76]

I was about 23 when i got my first, back in 1999 when the Phillips c12 was released. That was about the time that pay as you go was really taking off

My dd is 11 and she has been using a mobile regularly for at least a year and a half, before that she got to use an old one that we had lying about and had done for a long time. But yeah, all her freinds have phones now and they don't move up to secondary until august

I let her have her own phone because it was appropriate to do so at that time, she probably wasn't even 10 yet, but things are different now to how they were when I grew up. I think it's hard to say when your kids are very young what age you will allow them to do things at. I never would have imagined Leah having a mobile when she was 10, but that's just how things are nowadays, technology is everywhere and kids are using it more that adults. Plus every child is different, whatis right for one at a certain age won't always be right for others

 

[LolaLou]

I was in my late twentys!! Now I don't know how I lived without it for so long!! My son is 14 and got his first phone at 10. That is because we got rid of our landline, so I needed him to be able to reach us if he got back from school before we did, or to call us when it is time to pick him up after practice or whatever.

I have 2 toddler girls now, and will probably let them have a phone about the same time if they are ever home alone or after school activities.

 

[River54]

I was about 19? when I got a cell phone. My parents actually pushed me for it - so if I got stuck anywhere driving, I could call.

My daughter got her first cell at 13. No data, but unlimited texts. I prefer a text to say what is going on then a phone call at work. She had a contract - and that became her allowance. if she went over - she had to pay the overages.
She is 16 now, and got a newer smart phone, still no data plan - but she could use it if she is willing to pay for it.
She walked to/from school and to/from practices - and I work - so it was nice to know what was going on.
Funny - she lost soo many things over the years, but not her phone...

 

[hopeandpray]

I think I would allow them to have it to text me or for emergencies but wouldn't like them calling with it regularly. To me there hasn't been enough long term research into any damage it might to and then skulls of children are thinner.
I was around 13 when I got one.

 

[KathrynW]

I got my first phone when I was 18, for when I went off to uni.
I'll probably get my children phones when they start high school and they're going out a lot more etc, just incase they ever need to get hold of me or DH for any reason.

 

[holly2234]

I got mine when i was 10 and went to secondary school. Well it was for my birthday prior to me going to that school. I was going to be getting the bus alone and walking etc so it was mostly for that purpose. It was pay as you go and very basic and i never used to spend much really. I got my first smart phone about 2 years ago and never looked back But for DD, she already knows how to text and she is not even two yet! I have no idea when she will get one. I really cant put a number on it because i dont know how things will change over the next few years or how mature she is going to be etc. I will get her one when the time is right whether it be 10 or 16. I will likely just get her an unlimited monthly plan like DH and I have. Nothing to go over and you know the costs in advance.

 

[wishuwerehere]

I was 11 or 12. When i first started secondary school, because I got the bus home and the service was sporadic at best so i used it to tell my mum not to worry if I was waiting for a bus for ages! (I'm 23 now, so about 11 years ago.)

LO will probably have one when she's a similar age, maybe a bit younger, when she starts going into town and stuff on her own.

 

[Sissycans]

I gave my 15 a phone when he started High school. He uses public transportation and a phone made me more comfortable with it. Very limited talk time but unlimited texting.

 

[Hannah's Mom]

I got a phone when I was 10 I think, think it was when I went to senior school as I would be getting the bus there/home on my own.

We recently got our 7 year old a mobile as she is at dance/gymnastics classes 5 times a week and she gets really anxious if she thinks she couldn't get in touch with one of us, after a week or so the initial excitement over having her own phone wore off and now it only leaves her kit bag maybe once a fortnight for a charge

Xxx

 

[BlueHadeda]

I was 22 when I got my first cell, it was one of the firsts in my country. (Yes, I'm that old ).

We recently got my 12-year old his first phone. A plain, no-frills phone for texting or phoning us. We decided on this age, because the last year he happened to come out earlier several times, than what he was supposed to from after school activities. Without anyone letting us know. Which meant he sat alone in the parking lot without supervision for 30-60 minutes waiting for me to pick him up at the supposed time. In my country, where crime is a HUGE issue, this became unacceptable to us. So we got him a phone. We'll probably wait until the other children are around 11 or 12 as well before getting them one.

 

[C_baby]

I was 17 my boyfriend at the time bought the handset and I paid to keep it topped up.

SD has had one since about 12 which was an old top up phone which she barely used. We got her a Blackberry on a capped monthly contract (£15per month) for her 14th birthday and she abused it to death (literally; it's stopped working) so she is now using a very old handset and because her sim does not fit in it she can't use her credit so doesnt get alot of use out if it. We are purposefully not replacing her phone, sim card or topping up the phone she is using until her next birthday to teach her a lesson about caring for her possessions.

There's a certain degree of responsibility with a phone and you can use them as a learning experience. Plus removing the laptop/phone is the most effective punishment we have in our house for misbehaviour!

 

[Athena]

This thread makes me feel old LOL! I don't think phones were sold to the general public until I was 18 haha, they were for businessmen or those MASSIVE carphones a pp mentioned, anyhoo..

DD and DS both had one when they were about 10 (their dad bought for them) and they never looked after them or bothered with them and have lost and he's replaced several times.

DD is now nearly 13 and is pretty much attached to her phone since starting secondary school, DS is nearly 14 and has one and uses it but isn't as bothered with it as she is. I would say for us they were a waste of time until they were at an age where they are capable of looking after one!