do you think its ok for an 8 year old to have there own mobile phone ?

at 11/12 I see it as a good age to allow them something like that there a bit more mature but at 8 etc as i said in my post on the last page its just not right.

They need to be children they dont need mobile phones if they want one they can play with my one.

At that age they should not be away from there parents control alone.

Period.

Does not matter what age what year it is 8 year old kids are kids and how much younger will it get each decade next it will be 6 and 7 year olds with mobile phones KIDS ARE GROWING UP WAY TO FAST.

Give them a real childhood and that does not consist of mobile phones and going out alone.

Most of the 8 year olds in my small town are sweet little kids but when i live din london the you would see quite a few with an iphone or blackberry walkin around like hes a bloody 18 year old where has there innocence gone they no longer get to enjoy that anymore if you allow them things at such a young age.


After 10 I would be swayed to the idea of allowing them to go out with some friends nearby on there own and have a phone maybe.
 
Allnamestaken said:
I really think its bad if 8 year olds are allowed out on there own man seriously im 20 now just for the record.

This takes away from having an actual childhood kids are growing up to fast when allowed these things so early.
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how can they have a "childhood" if they're not allowed out on their own? i swear it seems like half of you would be happy to keep a child locked up in the house playing xbox/watching tv. sure its safer, but abit ott. at what point in their lives will you educate them on things in life and how to deal with certain situations and allow them to actually be children albeit responsible, smart, ones ?

the freedom, the education and living in the countryside in the late 80's and 90s gave me what every child should have, fields, woods, motorbikes, cars and any chance i had where i could be out.. i would be.. and i'll be sure to do the same when i have children. if you live in the middle of a big town in an area you consider risky, well, your kids are missing out bigtime, maybe you should move somewhere nicer ?

the children will soon learn what will happen if they wave their phones around in front of gangs of chavs, or you could educate them about what could happen so its in their pockets and prevent it. do your best and see how they handle owning a phone. consider making them turn it off and not in their room at night time tho :p
 
No you misunderstand i would be perfectly happy letting them out to play outside with there friends near the house and what not but i am not letting them go off into town on there own at that age.
 
it wasnt all aimed at you, more at everyone. i just think and from my own experience that around that age a child should be gradually allowed to do more.
 
Ofcourse I grew up in london and while that is perfectly acceptable idea to have in london its not something you could do i would as isad let them play near the house but not go into the town or around the city on there own at that age.

I live in ipswich now In woodbridge and i would have no problem if my kids were around the town/village here as its a completely different enviroment.
 
I was going out without adults when I was 6. So were the other children I was with. It was normal in those days. We'd go out on our bikes and/or play in the nearby fields and woodland.

All this talk about children staying within line of sight of their parents in the past until they were 12 or more is simply not true. It's a combination of modern fear and a view of the past revised into a modern view of what is ideal.

EDIT: I'm 41, so I'm talking about the mid 70s.
 
Think we can all see a big divide here on peoples opinions, don't think there is a right or wrong answer.

Personally I wouldn't, they dint need a phone at that age and they would not be off alone anywhere far enough away, and unsupervised, where I would urgently need to contact them. 11 for me is the age at that age they are off to senior school and generally becoming more independent and starting to go further afield. Prior to that I see no real need.
 
I can't see the need for an 8 year old to have a phone. They are either at school, with you at home or reasonably near by. They shouldn't need to call or text anyone.

Perhaps have a cheap one with a small amount of credit if they are away from the house (like a family emergency phone for use on a school trip for example).

I think it's definitely the choice of the parent in the specific circumstances to get their children a phone or not. I believe that your sis-in-law should have asked you first.
 
RedDanDoc said:
I just thought there was an element of danger with radiation etc. Also I want my kids to be kids and not minature adults.

She (sister inlaw) even made a Facebook account for my daughter who is only 9 years old.

I guess I'm over reacting though.
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Have strong words with the kids aunt. It's up to you and your wife to decide if you kids go on facebook and have mobiles.

She'll be putting them on her passport next lol
 
simulatorman said:
Sod that, eight year olds don't need phones. Take them away and let them have them when they're older.
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Ye i agree.

Got mine when i was umm 10 as i was starting secondary school. So i wouldn't be driven to school every day and such, and i ended up NEEDING it.

8 is just to young imo
 
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No, I don't think there is a need for it however I imagine a lot of kids at the school would have handsets and not giving a child one could potentially make them an outcast, as sad as it sounds.

I personally didn't get a mobile till I was 16 (2001) but I think times have changed a bit since then.

The only issue I really have with the OP is that the aunt just bought them and didn't speak to yourself at all, I don't think that's right and I hope she didn't just hand them over to the kids without any discussion with you.
 
I'd let them have the phone, they weren't expensive phones so they probably won't get mugged over them. The facebook account is pretty meh, I can see arguments for and against it.
 
I agree with others, I don't think at 8 there is much need for a mobile. Your sister-inlaw could have at least double checked with you to make sure you didnt mind, but maybe she didnt really think she would be doing any harm.

If I was you, I would show the children how the phone works but tell them that they would only have use of it for things like sleep overs, day trips with other parents & their children etc. That way they can understand that its more for emergency use than everyday lets waste a fortune on texts/calls for no reason. I don't think 8 year olds have a good understanding of how money works & having a mobile that they have no way to pay for etc would be giving them the wrong impressions & understanding.

Facebook, would be a no in my books.
 
zipp0r said:
over reacting! you can now get hold of your children when they are out... good thing no? :\
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yeah when they are out clubbing and shopping all the normal things 8 year olds do....

I don't have kids but id maybe consider getting them one when they went to senior school year 7.
 
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