What kind of mobile phone to get for kids?

[just888]

I gave my son HP since P1, coz’ he is taking sch bus should there be a delay on the journey he would inform us instead of us worrying why the bus too so long to come back. Also at times we fetch him from sch. Therefore need to be in contact with him.

He is using LG touch phone (my old phone) currently due to the previous basic phone RIP already. But he requested for a basic one as the LG touch phone needs to charge pretty often as compared to his previous.

His plan is under M1 sun-share tie to hubby’s mainline. Therefore we called each other within the group is FOC.

[NaNaAYie]

My P2 daughter mobile phone is HTC wildfire. Got it FOC with a 2-year contract under my name.


Plan is iPhone Value @ SGD 36.00 with free incoming calls, 100min outgoing calls, 500 sms and 12GB.

Kind of worth it coz she plays games, FB, YouTube and since me and hubby working, it is also easy to get hold of her and her brother too

[Flowermonaster]

My DS holding a basic Nokia handphone(those no camera type use by army boy) now but will be getting him an iPhone if he do well in his PSLE next year.

[MrBig]

Honestly …

I would get my daughter an iPhone, mainly for the location finder…
I also feel that it is a good learning tool, with many apps that promote cognitive development & memory.

Sure, other phones have the location finder, but I find the apps on the iphone slightly better than compared to others.

But rules such as "no phones at the dining table" apply.

[Ichigokun]

I think students shouldn’t be getting iPhones, Samsung Galaxies at this age.


I mean, for what? I’m a student I personally think that having iPhones and all this is not a necessity. It’s just a form of pleasure.

Just a basic phone with camera function, calling function and SMS function will do.

Besides, from my own experience. I’ve seen many students who have been pampered with such pleasures of the iPhone.

They take it to tuition, when the teachers are teaching, the more "atas" students whip out their iPhone and start playing them under the desk.

Then those less "atas" ones crowd around the person.

Then that defeats the purpose of going to tuition.

If children in the past could survive without such iPhones, why can’t the present children do it?

Anyway I don’t have a phone yet. Just to inform parents who don’t know, there are public phones in the school for usage, there’s actually not much need for phones.

[Kissgurami]

Ichigokun:

I think students shouldn't be getting iPhones, Samsung Galaxies at this age.


I mean, for what? I'm a student I personally think that having iPhones and all this is not a necessity. It's just a form of pleasure.

Just a basic phone with camera function, calling function and SMS function will do.

Besides, from my own experience. I've seen many students who have been pampered with such pleasures of the iPhone.

They take it to tuition, when the teachers are teaching, the more \"atas\" students whip out their iPhone and start playing them under the desk.

Then those less \"atas\" ones crowd around the person.

Then that defeats the purpose of going to tuition.

If children in the past could survive without such iPhones, why can't the present children do it?

Anyway I don't have a phone yet. Just to inform parents who don't know, there are public phones in the school for usage, there's actually not much need for phones.

:goodpost:

[Ichigokun]

MrBig:

Honestly ....

I would get my daughter an iPhone, mainly for the location finder....
I also feel that it is a good learning tool, with many apps that promote cognitive development & memory.

Sure, other phones have the location finder, but I find the apps on the iphone slightly better than compared to others.

But rules such as \"no phones at the dining table\" apply.

Sure, there are apps that promote cognitive development and memory. But what about the other apps in the app store?

I mean, like, I have seen apps in there that are about s*x in the top 25 apps section. Shouldnt those be censored? :censored:

And what if your daughter decides one day to try out all the apps in the app store for fun and then the phone bill increases into a heap (Chinese newspapers two months ago reported that two boys used their mom's iPhone to download a lot of apps that costed their mom a few thousand bucks)

[MrBig]

Ichigokun:

Sure, there are apps that promote cognitive development and memory. But what about the other apps in the app store?

I mean, like, I have seen apps in there that are about s*x in the top 25 apps section. Shouldnt those be censored? :censored:

And what if your daughter decides one day to try out all the apps in the app store for fun and then the phone bill increases into a heap (Chinese newspapers two months ago reported that two boys used their mom's iPhone to download a lot of apps that costed their mom a few thousand bucks)

Hi Ichigokun

Yes, I agree that there are cases where abuse and mis-use occurs.
However I also view it as an opportunity to teach the child responsibility and how to spot scams too.

While we tend to think of the worst could happen, sometimes it is guidance along with the gift(mobile), that nurtures a responsible child into a responsible adult.

I'll give my child an iphone and set it to child guard functions and the locator, but I'll also teach my child the value of money and to spend wisely by buying gift certs. from the app store and rewarding her when she deserves it. This also gives me the opportunity to remove a reward, should she misbehave, by confiscating her hp for maybe 1 day?

From there, I'll go through how scams occur and teach her that not everyone online is who they propose to be. And how to spend wisely on things that are necessary vs what she wants.

All in all.... I feel that we cant just give a phone to a child and expect them to know or use it like we do. Rather it is the guidance along with the mobile that allows us the opportunity to nurture responsibility, while allowing us a chance to know their where abouts.

[phankao]

peterch:

Sec School kid must be a different one. :imanangel: Maybe it is cheaper if you get the youth plan for them. CMIIW

My other kids all use basic nokia phones with prepaid singtel cards. I like singtel bc I can top-up using my phone line. S$50 lasts for 3mths for my sec 2 son, so it's really very worth it. He uses a LOT of SMS. Not so much phone calls. My p6 son uses even less - rarely uses his mobile phone altho' probably will do so more frequently when he gets to sec school next year.

I only got my eldest girl a Sony android phone as a birthday present when she turned 16. Renewed my own phone plan to get that phone for her. I only just got a youth plan for her this year. Don't' exactly find it all that cheap. S$40+ each month, but and using free wifi not so stable. She's in JC now, and I have to be her guarantor (I think youth plan, below 16yrs - cannot, right?).

[KiasuNotEnough]

I thk one of the main issue is self control. Not easy for many kids. Just got a HP for my ds. Though Hv work out some terms n cond w him but realise he can get quite addicted when on a game n Hv to restrain him…