Mobile phones for kids

[corneyAmber]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


1. How do you manage that? Any rules set?
2. Do you give them a contract plan phone or just the hi card?
3. What is an appropriate age to give?
4. If you give, what are your reasons?
5. Which phone models do you give?
6. Do they bring to school or only for weekend use?

Thank you for sharing.

[ChiefKiasu]

ks2me:

1. How do you manage that? Any rules set?

2. Do you give them a contract plan phone or just the hi card?
3. What is an appropriate age to give?
4. If you give, what are your reasons?
5. Which phone models do you give?
6. Do they bring to school or only for weekend use?

Thank you for sharing.

1. No rules... so far trust is not abused.
2. Prepaid card
3. I gave my son my old phone when he learnt how to SMS in K2.
4. Primarily used outside for us to keep track of him.
5. Hand-in-downs
7. Only outside of school

But don't forget the warnings that doctors give about letting your children use mobiles too much ... we don't know what the long term effects are on such young brains.

[sashimi]

The most recent report I read suggested that the allegedly dangerous radiation produced by handphones is relatively MORE dangerous to children because their brains are still growing. It’s less of a danger to adults whose brains have already reached maturity.


For this reason, although I had previously agreed to let my daughter have a phone at P1, I recently told her that it it will be delayed.

[corneyAmber]

ChiefKiasu:

ks2me:

1. How do you manage that? Any rules set?

2. Do you give them a contract plan phone or just the hi card?
3. What is an appropriate age to give?
4. If you give, what are your reasons?
5. Which phone models do you give?
6. Do they bring to school or only for weekend use?

Thank you for sharing.

1. No rules... so far trust is not abused.
2. Prepaid card
3. I gave my son my old phone when he learnt how to SMS in K2.
4. Primarily used outside for us to keep track of him.
5. Hand-in-downs
7. Only outside of school

But don't forget the warnings that doctors give about letting your children use mobiles too much ... we don't know what the long term effects are on such young brains.

Thanks for your response. In that case, is there a gadget for sending sms only?

[tanzyjac]

:oops: Just read this thread.... hope I can still share...


I gave my 6yo daughter a new handphone with very basic features such as camera, mp3 (cost $1xx without contract) few months ago. She is only allowed to bring the phone out when we go shopping. This is to allow her to stay in-touch with me if we lost each other. She is also allowed to sms me or my husband only. And so far she managed to send me short texts like \"mommy I love u\" and \"mommy, are you coming back soon\"... It is always very heart warming to receive sm from her..

[yjj]

Hihi


DD is starting to go for additional scheduled classes outside school and one-time holiday classes in various locations.

Am thinking of letting her carry a mobile phone at those times just in case missed/ late pick up, change location etc. Especially 4hour or full day program where it is impractical for a parent to be nearby the whole time.

Do you have the same concerns? What do you do?
Any comments on whether post-paid subscription plan or pre-paid card is more suitable?

Thanks for any input!

[jedamum]

hi,

please discuss kids mobile http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25&start=0.
TQ.

[shurley197323]

My girl (Pri 2) is having a Starhub Plan at around $20.00 per mth but she hardly use more than 100 mins per mth ( so I think it a waste but I have to finish the contract first) My boy ( K2) is having a Singtel Prepaid card with $ 18.00 value and the $18.00 is not used up yet for 3 mths, although it quite expensive per call, but my main purpose of them having handphone is to call me when emergency not call their friends to chit chat. So to me, prepaid card is more worthwhile.

And they are having our old handphone when we upgraded to new one so it is not wasteful. THe most ironically is that I as their mother :oops: had lost 2 handphone before and their still safe and sound !!

[mathsparks]

yjj:

Do you have the same concerns? What do you do?

Any comments on whether post-paid subscription plan or pre-paid card is more suitable?

Thanks for any input!

Mine has a prepaid phone since p4 due to his erratic school schedule..to arrange pickup time..after meetings (project..prefects..workgroups etc)..after suppl/enrichment classes (sometimes tchers don turn up and kids are not informed..sometimes they're informed last minute)..and the long queue at the coin phone in school..after school excursions etc. Highly justified. But my girl only got hers in Sec1 since she was taking a school bus in pri school.

just prepaid is enuf. he doesnt use it to call his frens..a basic lg phone which we exchanged using points from caltex..plus he must carry a permission slip with him at all times.

[yjj]

shurley197323:

...

My boy ( K2) is having a Singtel Prepaid card with $ 18.00 value and the $18.00 is not used up yet for 3 mths, although it quite expensive per call, but my main purpose of them having handphone is to call me when emergency not call their friends to chit chat. So to me, prepaid card is more worthwhile.
...

mathsparks:

...
just prepaid is enuf. he doesnt use it to call his frens..
...

Thanks for the replies. I was weighing between call plan (fixed $$ per month) vs prepaid card (high per call rates). But you are right that since the phone is for emergency use and not for chitchat, the prepaid card is better value in the long run.

I have a el cheapo LG phone that came free with a renewal contract, small and simple. Should be good enough.