When are they old enough for a phone...

[Catastrophic]

Hi,

I wanted to know when you thought it would be a good idea to buy the kids their own prepaid phone for them to use at their dads... Now my girls are a little too young at the moment - but when will be the right time...

The phone will only be use to contact me if they want while they are at their dads. . .

Something the psych brought up... Has got me thinking.

[TickToc]

My DD will be 13 next year and starting high school which means I no longer have the security of before and after school care (I work f/time) and she'll more than likely be walking to and from school on her own or with friends so I will be giving her a phone for christmas - this gives some time for her to "be silly" and use all her credit in the first flush of "I have a phone!" before school starts.
I always used to worry about DD being able to contact me when she's at her Dad's but we worked out a system that all she has to do is ring my mobile so I see the missed call and then I ring her back - that way her dad cannot use the excuse of paying for the call to prevent her from ringing me if she wants to speak to me.

[Artechim]

I guess it depends on the kid. My DS is 5.5 and if he were regularly away from me then I would give him a phone now. Kid works all the electronic gizmos better than me anyway.

[Tinks]

I gave mine a phone when they went to high school.

Doesn't their dad allow them to call you Cat?

[toomanyshoes]

I think it comes down to the kid and why, any age can be "right" if the circumstances are right!

At this stage for our kids (11 and 7) it will be the year they turn 13, by then they will most likely be traveling to school alone and we feel its an appropriate time.

[Amity]

Mine would be year 7. And no Internet on the phone.

[PumpkinZulu]

Mine would be year 7. And no Internet on the phone.

Ditto.

[Amaunet]

I would give them a phone now if that's what they need to contact you when they are with their Dad. Just a basic mobile, no Internet, phone calls and texts only.

[Catastrophic]

I should add at the moment my kids are quite young under 7yo. But they can use my phone :P

The "why" would be so they are always able to contact me if they need to. It would have no internet and only be used for parental contact... A simple plain phone... just to be able to call me if they need to or for me to call them when they are at their dads...

Tinks - I call them every night they are with him. and he allows that for now. but things are getting rockier!

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

once my girls start highschool, so year 7 and like Divvy, no internet

however in your circumstance I'd be looking into one now. (basic not smart phone)