Mobile phones for kids

[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.

[westmom]

I was told that in secondary school, kids do secretly use the hp to sms each other during lessons and clever enough not to be caught. For parents with sec kids, how do you manage or monitor this? Obviously we want our kids to be concentrating on lessons. Do you "warn" your kids that if ever you find out you will confiscate the phone? I guess is also peer pressure because a teen does not want to be seen as "scared".

[daisyt]

westmom:

I was told that in secondary school, kids do secretly use the hp to sms each other during lessons and clever enough not to be caught. For parents with sec kids, how do you manage or monitor this? Obviously we want our kids to be concentrating on lessons. Do you \"warn\" your kids that if ever you find out you will confiscate the phone? I guess is also peer pressure because a teen does not want to be seen as \"scared\".

hi westmom, yes this happens. I warn her, it might get confiscated and we parents would be called to the general office. Daddy is going to blow up if this happens.

The problem is her school allows them to use hp in school, at desinated area and time but kids just go overbroad because they are just kids. I also told her, one day the school would stop this privilage, because you kids spoilt it and by then, do not blame the school.

[BlueBells]

I am not in favour of my kids bringing mobile phone to school, and they are equipped with a phone card for use on public phone. If the card expires or runs out of value, they can always approach the general office.


However, we have been training our kids to take the MRT to meet us at various locations during the school holidays. So on days that they are to take the train and meet us somewhere, they are equipped with a phone with a Hi card. Has been really useful, since my kids are 9 and 7.

[westmom]

daisyt:

hi westmom, yes this happens. I warn her, it might get confiscated and we parents would be called to the general office. Daddy is going to blow up if this happens.

The problem is her school allows them to use hp in school, at desinated area and time but kids just go overbroad because they are just kids. I also told her, one day the school would stop this privilage, because you kids spoilt it and by then, do not blame the school.

Daisyt- I read somewhere before that there is \"hp software\" either to track usage or the location of hp. Can't remember exactly. Is there such thing? I know we should try to trust our kids but most of them they can outsmart us ! I hear of one \"kwai kwai\" gal who because of peer pressure started to lie to parents though she is the sort that is \"well brought up\". Peer pressure can beat whatever good parental guidance we have been instilling in our kids!