Mobile phones for kids

[jedamum]

super_dad:

Say....if you want to get a mobile phone...what would be a suitable one for kids? (in terms of ease of use, durability, low running cost...)

for mobile phone, i will get something basic...no fanciful design, no mms or extra features. heard that nokia is the most hardy among the ranges of handphone models, dunno how true.
for mobile plan, i will get the cheapest one....if there are options of either having more sms or having free incoming, i will go for free sms. didn't want free incoming so as to discourage dss from asking his friends to call him and he talk whole day without having to pay a single cent.

[phantom]

super_dad:

Say....if you want to get a mobile phone...what would be a suitable one for kids? (in terms of ease of use, durability, low running cost...)

I think one of the more important thing to take note is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health value of the phone. It is important not to damage the delicate brain of the kid , especially when they used it very regularly once they have a phone in hand.

[ChiefKiasu]

phantom:

I think one of the more important thing to take note is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health value of the phone. It is important not to damage the delicate brain of the kid , especially when they used it very regularly once they have a phone in hand.

Quite true. Lots of people think that little thing don't have that much power to do damage. But they forget the phone is also a transmitter that is able to transmit radio waves far enough to reach the base station which could be up to 500m away! The strange thing is the same people do not want to use wireless routers at home because of \"radiation\"... not realizing that the power emitted by the wireless router much lesser than that emitted by the mobile phone and has problems even going through walls.

[phantom]

ChiefKiasu:

phantom:

I think one of the more important thing to take note is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_radiation_and_health value of the phone. It is important not to damage the delicate brain of the kid , especially when they used it very regularly once they have a phone in hand.

Quite true. Lots of people think that little thing don't have that much power to do damage. But they forget the phone is also a transmitter that is able to transmit radio waves far enough to reach the base station which could be up to 500m away! The strange thing is the same people do not want to use wireless routers at home because of \"radiation\"... not realizing that the power emitted by the wireless router much lesser than that emitted by the mobile phone and has problems even going through walls.

True, I tried the mobile phone to use minimally. When I used it too long, my head gets heated up, and sometime got headache.

When my wife was pregnant, she would forbid me from getting near her when I am holding a mobile phone.

[jedamum]

Check this out.

http://home.singtel.com/kidz/redpac.asp

[super_dad]

Hmm...this singtel deal, looks interesting. :?

[mstan]

Sorry to Nokia fans, but I've heard too many cases that Nokia phones no longer that good. It spoilts easily.. hangs easily, etc...


Maybe can consider Sony Ecrission or other cheaper brand for kids to use bah..

I hope my daughter can get to use the mobile next year but she dono how to use a phone yet. :roll:

[phantom]

mstan:

Sorry to Nokia fans, but I've heard too many cases that Nokia phones no longer that good. It spoilts easily.. hangs easily, etc...


Maybe can consider Sony Ecrission or other cheaper brand for kids to use bah..

I hope my daughter can get to use the mobile next year but she dono how to use a phone yet. :roll:

I think giving the kid our second hand phone is good enough. No need to get new one, I heard stories where phones get stolen in schools and kids purposely lose their phone to get new one.

[BlueBells]

I don’t see the need for a mobile phone for Primary school kid - there are public phone available in school, and tehy can also ask to use the phone from the general office if need be. For me, that would mean absolutley no mobile phones until at least 12 years old. We will evaluate after that.

[heutistmeintag]

I guess there are a number of factors that can affect this decision e.g. need to travel on own, late classes, affordability of plans and phones etc


Personally, I gave my kids hp when they were at P5/P6 to prepare them for secondary schools. I heard that they will have frequent CCAs, supplementary classes etc - irregular timings to return home when they go into secondary school. Most importantly, they will be travelling on their own and I feel more comfortable if they can call me or my wife when they are lost, need to come home late or any other emergencies.

They are on phone cards and I \"upgraded\" my son to a plan only recently because I foresee his usage to increase. Phone-wise, I do not spend more than $100 regardless of brand and model. So, I have a fixed cost per month and also the potential risk $ if the phone is lost.

BTW one consideration for phone card vs mobile plan is that phone card cannot be used overseas. If you kid needs to go for school trip oversea, then it's a little more troublesome to work around this constraint.