What Age for Latest Technology?
Discussion
My 11 year old is crying out (literally) for a mobile phone. Not only that but a particular make and model number! 
I was happy with a catapult at his age. 
All his mates seem to have been bought one and I must say it would be beneficial from the safety and communication points of view but I'm still not sure on the purchase. He's can be grown up for his age, is quite 'streetwise' (in an 11-year-old sort of way) but small for his age. I mention this as phones can attract undesirable scroats.
He has assured me that it won't go the way of his pushbike (rusting metal heap in the corner) and that he will treasure this like nothing else – he's been told he must pay for the text messages himself (from pocket money) after our initial top-up.
Am I making his day or giving in to a 'modern day child'? You do not need a mobile phone aged 11, but I'm aware that these things are no longer just 'business tools' but 'fashion accessories'.
Any advice appreciated.
>>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 18th July 07:37
I was happy with a catapult at his age. All his mates seem to have been bought one and I must say it would be beneficial from the safety and communication points of view but I'm still not sure on the purchase. He's can be grown up for his age, is quite 'streetwise' (in an 11-year-old sort of way) but small for his age. I mention this as phones can attract undesirable scroats.
He has assured me that it won't go the way of his pushbike (rusting metal heap in the corner) and that he will treasure this like nothing else – he's been told he must pay for the text messages himself (from pocket money) after our initial top-up.
Am I making his day or giving in to a 'modern day child'? You do not need a mobile phone aged 11, but I'm aware that these things are no longer just 'business tools' but 'fashion accessories'.
Any advice appreciated.
>>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 18th July 07:37
Mike,
Difficult one this. I made my daughter wait untill she was fourteen and then she had one for Christmas, pay as you go which she funds herself.
My son had one last year at eleven as he was going to a senior school which meant a train and bus ride each way, I felt that he had a point about needing to be able to get hold of us. His is also pay as you go.
Neither has lost their phone yet :touchwood: and they buy their own top up cards, also usually it means I can find out where they are.
It's a fact of modern society that kids today need mobile phones in the same way we needed Doc Martins, Levis and tonic suits.
Cheers,
JSG.
Difficult one this. I made my daughter wait untill she was fourteen and then she had one for Christmas, pay as you go which she funds herself.
My son had one last year at eleven as he was going to a senior school which meant a train and bus ride each way, I felt that he had a point about needing to be able to get hold of us. His is also pay as you go.
Neither has lost their phone yet :touchwood: and they buy their own top up cards, also usually it means I can find out where they are.
It's a fact of modern society that kids today need mobile phones in the same way we needed Doc Martins, Levis and tonic suits.
Cheers,
JSG.
It is a difficult one this. You don't want the kid to be picked on for not having one when all the others have 'em. But then you don't want your child to be visible to the increasing tidal wave of mobile crime/bullying etc.
I think it's a bit young to have one. But as someone said, a lot comes down to the child's attitude. Do you reckon he's grown up enough not to get himself into difficult situations (the bills or the potential bullying etc)?
Giving a child a mobile phone seems much more responsible than when we, as kids, acquired an AM-band CB/ham radio, a 400watt Zitagi burner, built a 2 metre square box arial using canes stolen from the local beat-bobby's garden and mounted it on the top of a local public building using the fire escape as a ground plane. While happily transmitting to Spain from central Lincolnshire we cut across every TV with a half mile radius and everyone in the village knew who it was. The interference even opened and closed my mate's Dad's electric garage doors and he called the police who alas were already in attendance to address the TV interference thing.
Yep. Give him the phone
I think it's a bit young to have one. But as someone said, a lot comes down to the child's attitude. Do you reckon he's grown up enough not to get himself into difficult situations (the bills or the potential bullying etc)?
Giving a child a mobile phone seems much more responsible than when we, as kids, acquired an AM-band CB/ham radio, a 400watt Zitagi burner, built a 2 metre square box arial using canes stolen from the local beat-bobby's garden and mounted it on the top of a local public building using the fire escape as a ground plane. While happily transmitting to Spain from central Lincolnshire we cut across every TV with a half mile radius and everyone in the village knew who it was. The interference even opened and closed my mate's Dad's electric garage doors and he called the police who alas were already in attendance to address the TV interference thing.
Yep. Give him the phone
I think you should get one for him MikeyT:
- whether we like it or not, many kids today seem to be communicating via text messages or mobile phone rather than talking to each other
- I'm sure you don't want him to be left out.
- it could be a good way for him to learn about money if he has to finance (or part finance) the use of a pre-paid phone.
- the safety and security aspects previously mentioned.
Perhaps a compromise is to start with an inexpensive phone to check that he doesn't lose it/can cope with the expenditure, with an offer to upgrade in the future to the one he really wants ('cos I bet the one he's picked out isn't cheap
).
It seems commonplace for eleven year olds to have phones (and even younger in many other European countries - I think Finland has a phone penetration rate of over 80% in the 5-10 year olds!), so I don't think that matters.
Good luck!
Jeremy
(who doesn't have any kids so doesn't speak from experience, but who does have a vested interest in as many people having mobile phones as possible
)
>> Edited by jeremyc on Thursday 18th July 10:27
- whether we like it or not, many kids today seem to be communicating via text messages or mobile phone rather than talking to each other
- I'm sure you don't want him to be left out. - it could be a good way for him to learn about money if he has to finance (or part finance) the use of a pre-paid phone.
- the safety and security aspects previously mentioned.
Perhaps a compromise is to start with an inexpensive phone to check that he doesn't lose it/can cope with the expenditure, with an offer to upgrade in the future to the one he really wants ('cos I bet the one he's picked out isn't cheap
). It seems commonplace for eleven year olds to have phones (and even younger in many other European countries - I think Finland has a phone penetration rate of over 80% in the 5-10 year olds!), so I don't think that matters.
Good luck!
Jeremy
(who doesn't have any kids so doesn't speak from experience, but who does have a vested interest in as many people having mobile phones as possible
) >> Edited by jeremyc on Thursday 18th July 10:27
Thanks for all the responses so far 
Tonic suits – you young 'uns ... would have liked one but me Doc Martins were 10-hole black (and me mates had 8-hole brown ones, bought from Alf's in Pitsea along with a three quarter length sheepskin, still there too, Alf's that is not the sheepskin).
Just the job for kickin' people's heads in down Raquels in Basildon Town Centre in the 70s
Anyone remember Sellatio shoes?
do I want to contribute to Jeremyc's pension fund?
>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 18th July 11:01
Tonic suits – you young 'uns ... would have liked one but me Doc Martins were 10-hole black (and me mates had 8-hole brown ones, bought from Alf's in Pitsea along with a three quarter length sheepskin, still there too, Alf's that is not the sheepskin).
Just the job for kickin' people's heads in down Raquels in Basildon Town Centre in the 70s
Anyone remember Sellatio shoes?
do I want to contribute to Jeremyc's pension fund? >> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 18th July 11:01
Tonic suits, were suits made from a material which changed colour depending on what direction the light hit them, bit like wearing pearl paint. VERY fashionable in the late 70's/early 80's. In the grown up reality of 2002 they really did look cack!
Clarks Polyvelt!
>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Thursday 18th July 11:11
Clarks Polyvelt!
>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Thursday 18th July 11:11
quote:
Tonic suits, were suits made from a material which changed colour depending on what direction the light hit them, bit like wearing pearl paint. VERY fashionable in the late 70's/early 80's. In the grown up reality of 2002 they really did look cack!
>> Edited by Simonelite501 on Thursday 18th July 11:09
My tonic trousers were silver/green/purple (ish)
Looked the business at 14 years old in that hot summer of 76 with me Ben Sherman shirt and white socks and loafers – sparked those heels all the way into town courtesy of me segs
Happy days
If you do get him one make sure you point out "not in lessons". One of the biggest annoying factor for teachers is kids text messaging rather than paying attention. Like advanced note passing.
The biggest danger is his studies will die 'cos hes too busy playing with his phone. I'll put money on that the phone he wants also plays games and has lots of different dial tones. The idea that it also makes telephone calls is usually secondary.
The question is, is he trustworthy enough to only do it at sensible times? Or are you going to regret it in the next school report?
The biggest danger is his studies will die 'cos hes too busy playing with his phone. I'll put money on that the phone he wants also plays games and has lots of different dial tones. The idea that it also makes telephone calls is usually secondary.
The question is, is he trustworthy enough to only do it at sensible times? Or are you going to regret it in the next school report?
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