Peer pressure

[shillelagh]

Spug says he bought his daughter one for her 9th birthday. Top ups she has to earn otherwise she doesnt get it topped up. It was a Motorola L6 the one he bought her. I just asked him now.

[ANNE]

My two Granddaughters both 9 have one Gayle. One always forgets to take it out with her and don't think she bothers with it much. Our boo uses hers and loves taking pictures but she forgets to charge it up. Both gran daughters have their mum's hand me downs, but you can get some good cheep ones and give her a limited credit.

[katex]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

I agree with ringing her Grandma or ringing you, but why does she need to text her friends, whom she's probably spent all day with at school anyway.

I'd put a limit on it, abuse it and loose it, no aw mum either.

Retlaw.

Thing is Retlaw, things have changed. As Gayle as stated, Maddie is never on her own. Gone are the days when you came home from school, had yer tea and then went out playing with friends. They come home and sit at home or have accompanied interests, so the need to keep in touch with their friends is probably important to them.

Gayle, you know full well, you are going to buy Maddie one. She is only viewing it as a 'toy' and not an emergency facility at all, although this may be one of arguments she puts forward to you (we girls are clever).

I have changed my mind about this recently as the way of the world now, just as long as she knows how to use it in an emergency and not to intrude in other people's space, then OK. 'Course you will have to restrict the money you feed into it .. best to have pay as you go. Would arrange a deal for a certain figure every ? months, etc., and that's it.

As said, try not to ring it yerself, as a no reply only worries .. my 18 year old grandaughter never answers my textes or calls (unless in her own interest), but I know full well she has seen them.

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by katex

Gayle, you know full well, you are going to buy Maddie one.

You've got me pegged haven't you.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by katex

Gone are the days when you came home from school, had yer tea and then went out playing with friends.

No they are not. Why should we take our children's childhood from them just because we are more informed as to what goes on these days?

By our children and their friends having phones it allows them and us to keep in touch with and feel safer about them playing out. I had fun with my friends as a child and I want my children too as well.

I don't think things have changed that much in the last 30 years. We just have much greater TV/radio/internet/newspaper coverage these days scaring us into locking our children up.

[Lilly]

Originally Posted by Neil

Tom has one Gayle and he is 6. I call him when he is at friends or just playing around and about. It makes me feel better about letting him out of the house. I usually find if I want Rhonda its easier to phone Tom and get him to pass the phone to his mum, at least he answers it

Tom's not six, he's seven......you biff.......fancy getting your son's age wrong!

Re the mobile phone thing......it's hard to know what to do for the best.

I think it all depends on your circumstances.....where you live, how far the children go on their own etc. I don't think there is a right and wrong to this, it's what you feel comfortable with.

My eldest is 8 in November and I personally will not let him have a mobile phone yet......he hasn't asked for one either so I assume only a few children in his class have one.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Lilly

Tom's not six, he's seven......you biff.......fancy getting your son's age wrong!

I meant to put he was 6 when he got his phone.

I am a biff though