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    Mobile phones for kids

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    • jedamumJ Offline
      jedamum
      last edited by

      xxjustakidxx:
      jedamum:

      only when he needs to stay back in school for extra curriculum and we need to contact each other on when to pick him up. Preferably is that he needs to know how to sms.


      I have been saving up my mobile plan to 'pass it on' to him. My mobile plan costs only $3.50/mth - the catch is that there is only 30min free offpeak call time but has up to 700 free smses. So that will probably restrict him from talking too much to his friends cos he need to bear the $0.20 per block minute talktime and there are no free incoming talktime at all. 😄

      WHOA, 700 free smses?
      What's that plan?

      used to be Singtel Podlite. extinct already. plan used to cost $9.90, but i got discount for loyalty, so basic subscription now is $3.50/mth without caller id.good for heavy sms user like me - that was during schooling time. i don't usually call people, but cos now my mum always call me, the cost per min block still incurred up to $20plus per month. 😉
      ..refuse to upgrade....leaving it for my kid. 😄

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      • K Offline
        kiasimom
        last edited by

        ks2me:
        [Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


        1. How do you manage that? Any rules set?
        I only give DS the mobile phone when he has to leave the house for Kumon.
        The rule is he can only sms and call me.

        2. Do you give them a contract plan phone or just the hi card?
        Mine is a contract plan.

        3. What is an appropriate age to give?
        I guess it depends on the maturity of the child. My DS starts to use the mobile only this year. DS is 9yo.
        4. If you give, what are your reasons?
        For me to call him so that I will know if he is safe.5. Which phone models do you give?
        DS is using Nokia.6. Do they bring to school or only for weekend use?
        DS is not allowed to bring his mobile to school.

        Thank you for sharing.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • K Offline
          kiasimom
          last edited by

          cafelatte:
          Bumping up this thread.


          1) Anyone found the software that allow parents to view SMS messages/call log ?
          2) Seems like pre-paid card is the best option for the kid's handphone. Sorry to ask but I can't find answer on the Singtel website, how does pre-paid cards work and do I need to go Hello shop to get one ?
          You can buy pre-paid card from authorised dealer or 7-eleven, Cheers. You need your IC to activate the line. You pay for the card depending on the value of the card. Once the value is running low, you can top up at 7-eleven or Cheers.

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          • Y Offline
            yjj
            last edited by

            Dont forget that the prepaid cards have an expiry date, usually 3 months. i.e. you will need to top every 3 months to maintain the line EVEN if there is still value in the line, otherwise the telco will deem the line not in use, recycle the number and forfeit any unused value in the line.


            As such, I’ve gone with the telco with the cheapest top up card value since most other costs are able the same.

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            • D Offline
              davidbrett
              last edited by

              I am not in favor of the parents who give their kids mobile phones. Because mobile phone use may wreak on young children’s mental and physical health. Survey has already proved that. It may also affect their studies and lead them in a wrong way. So, as their well-wishers the parents must have to judge how far it would be necessary to give the kids mobile phones.

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              • D Offline
                Donkey Kong
                last edited by

                Kids these days ask for everything. My kid is begging me to buy him an Apple iPhone. He said iPhone has many APPs. Wow, primary sch students also know what is 'Apps' ! :shock:


                Mobile Phones have radiation. It is labelled as SAR values like 0.5W/kg in the instruction manual. Actually, the law requires manufacturers to label this at the BOX. No company dares to do it... 😢

                If I use my HP for > 5 mins, I will have tension headache. Ear gets heated up. Face red red. :x Dizzy, nausea. Do you have the same experience?

                Now, kid asking for one. I need to track his movement too. Do schools allow mobile phones? Which model you normally buy for kids?
                :?

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                • jedamumJ Offline
                  jedamum
                  last edited by

                  Donkey Kong:
                  Kids these days ask for everything. My kid is begging me to buy him an Apple iPhone. He said iPhone has many APPs. Wow, primary sch students also know what is 'Apps' ! :shock:


                  Mobile Phones have radiation. It is labelled as SAR values like 0.5W/kg in the instruction manual. Actually, the law requires manufacturers to label this at the BOX. No company dares to do it... 😢

                  If I use my HP for > 5 mins, I will have tension headache. Ear gets heated up. Face red red. :x Dizzy, nausea. Do you have the same experience?

                  Now, kid asking for one. I need to track his movement too. Do schools allow mobile phones? Which model you normally buy for kids?
                  :?
                  mods, pls merge.
                  http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25&start=0
                  if you deemed that your kid is not behaving well at home, i don't think you should be getting him a handphone at this stage just cos of his 'begging'. jmho.
                  hp for kids (pri at least) should be mainly for communications. ds1 is using old model that only has 20 sms storage memory, has sms characters word limit per sms and no mms or camera. he only gets to play his dad's iphone APP when the dad offers.

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                  • corneyAmberC Offline
                    corneyAmber
                    last edited by

                    jedamum:
                    if you deemed that your kid is not behaving well at home, i don't think you should be getting him a handphone at this stage just cos of his 'begging'. jmho.

                    hp for kids (pri at least) should be mainly for communications. ds1 is using old model that only has 20 sms storage memory, has sms characters word limit per sms and no mms or camera. he only gets to play his dad's iphone APP when the dad offers.
                    Agree, a child has to prove herself/himself to be able to handle one with discipline. Even though mine got one at 6YO, but she uses it for communication mainly, plays games only while waiting with nothing to do.

                    It is an old second-hand one daddy handed down to her, no frills phone because mainly to keep her contactable.

                    School will need to register the phone and where they can use the phone in school is very limited too, mainly canteen only.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • S Offline
                      schellen
                      last edited by

                      DD1 got a new phone but it is a very simple one. She only uses it to take pictures of her baby sister, play games and send SMS to her friends and family. She keeps it at home when she goes to school and only brings it out when we go out or when she is staying with my PILs. We have taught her to never access the internet with it, delete spam SMS and cancel calls from unfamiliar numbers. As for the iPhone, she only gets to play with it if Daddy allows it.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • T Offline
                        thebusybee
                        last edited by

                        DS hooked on mobile phone ever since dh passed his omnia to watch YouTube video clips of songs.


                        After we switched to iPhone, he's been hijacking it whenever he sees it. He knows how to play games, watch videos and take pictures, just by watching us tapping and stroking the screen!

                        I won't be surprise that he'll ask for a phone soon, though he can now only make calls accidentally.

                        And he's not even 3 yet!

                        Next time u see a tot holding a iPhone on bus or train, that could be him.

                        Cofession: times when we need to talk or watch movies undusturbed, we'll chuck the phone to ds to have peace.

                        :oops: :oops: :oops: 😉

                        we now hide our phones when get home, bluff him that we left the phones at work place or in the vehicle, coz the first thing he sees us is ' I want to play another game'.

                        Any parents with \"iPhone addicted\" kids? Can share how to control the urge for them to play with it? ( I know it's already hard for adults to stop fondling with it for start) 🙂

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