Mobile phone for an 8yo?

[GTIR]

My daughters birthday next week and her mother in her infinate wisdom is buying her a mobile phone. I think this is just wrong, even if said daughter is very bright and stuff, I just don't think she wil understand the importance of allowing her one.

I think 12 is a good age to get one. It's not like she's ever on her own and is always with family or her parents. I raised it with her mother and it went like this:

Me "I'm buying our daughter a watch, is anyone else?"
Her "Why?i thought ud bought her something already"
Me "Why do you have to question everything?. I asked if anyone else is buying a watch not what you thought about what I do with my money. "
Her "I dont care what u do with ur money,i just dont want her to turn into a bigger spoilt brat than she already is.she expects too much as it is."
Me "Spoilt? You're buying her a phone. A phone for an 8 year old! "
Her "Its the only thing shes asked for,what else am i suppose to buy her?"
Me "Something for an 8 year old? So if she asks she gets then. Spoilt."
Her "Whatever "
Me "Grow up"

Ok I was in a bad mood anyways but you get the idea. As you may realise I am not with my mother and some of you may remember a thread about me seeing my daughter after a long battle with court etc.
I suppose this there is a bigger picture with all this.

I'm sure other dads on here will also be in the se position as me - I don't have as much influence on my daughter as I'd like. Only see her twice a month and she just doesn't want to come and stay over the weekend.

Edited by GTIR on Thursday 5th November 19:50

[Cara van Man]

Awful decision.

12 at the earliest.

[Faz_ITR]

I didn't have one until I was 16, mind you I never really needed one as all of my friends were spoilt and I would borrow their's.

I'm with you on the point though, 8yo is too young IMO.

[OnTheOverrun]

Judging by your post, I suspect the kid is the most mature out of the three of you, so let her have it so she can call an ambulance when you two are strangling each other.

HTH

[jbudgie]

Ridiculous. Miles too young.

[Scraggles]

find some studies on how the phone will fry her brain, preferably with photos and let her see it

if it is handsfree, ie with a LOUDspeaker, might be better

maybe her mother does not know much ?

[jamesson]

Eight years old is far too young to have a mobile telephone. What on earth does an eight year old need a mobile for?

[GekkoRules]

Way too young.

Make sure its a pay as you go and give her no credit. That way you and her Mum can get her but she won't get addicted.

IMHO

[GekkoRules]

OnTheOverrun said:

Judging by your post, I suspect the kid is the most mature out of the three of you, so let her have it so she can call an ambulance when you two are strangling each other.

HTH

You're a prick.

Sorry for language. Stay on topic though the guy doesnt need your wise ass remarks. Twice a month he sees his daughter. That would drive a man immature.

Edited by GekkoRules on Thursday 5th November 20:14

[GTIR]

GekkoRules said:

OnTheOverrun said:

Judging by your post, I suspect the kid is the most mature out of the three of you, so let her have it so she can call an ambulance when you two are strangling each other.

HTH

You're a prick.

A prick with a phone! That's ridiculous.



OTO may be correct.

[71notout]

8 years old is far too young...as I have repeatedly told my own 8 year old daughter.

They have no concept of costs at that age and would never be off the thing - christ wimmin talk enough on the phone when they get older - no point encouraging it at an early age!

[RemaL]

Cara van Man said:

Awful decision.

12 at the earliest.

+1

[Mr Trophy]

jbudgie said:

Ridiculous. Miles too young.

+1.

Buy her a colouring book or something.

[Nolar Dog]

GTIR said:

As you may realise I am not with my mother...

Is that the only time you're allowed to post on PH then?
Tell your daughter happy birthday from Aunty Vicky!

[Cara van Man]

GTIR said:

As you may realise I am not with my mother

Good. Cos that would be, like, incest.

[Neil_H]

Ridiculous, and the fact that she asked for it is no reason for her having it as you rightly pointed out.

[GTIR]

Nolar Dog said:

GTIR said:

As you may realise I am not with my mother...

Is that the only time you're allowed to post on PH then?
Tell your daughter happy birthday from Aunty Vicky!

Will do!


CVM. Now you bloody tell me.

[odyssey2200]

All my kids have mobiles phones

13, 9 and 7.

TBH they are all my/wife's old phones which have been subject to free upgrades and have had new covers fitted for a couple of quid and have a PAYG SIM.

If they lost them it would be no great loss

They are chuffed that they have a moby.
We mostly use them as alarm clocks for when the kids go out to play.
When the alarm goes off it's time to come home.
Or if they say they are going to call on X, they call us to let us know if X is out and that they are going to see Y.

They are not allowed to take them to school!!

I would never spend a large amount of cash on a kids moby but there are cheap ways of keeping the peace

[Teppic]

RemaL said:

Cara van Man said:

Awful decision.

12 at the earliest.

+1

OK. 13 then.

[OnTheOverrun]

GekkoRules said:

OnTheOverrun said:

Judging by your post, I suspect the kid is the most mature out of the three of you, so let her have it so she can call an ambulance when you two are strangling each other.

HTH

You're a prick.

Sorry for language. Stay on topic though the guy doesnt need your wise ass remarks. Twice a month he sees his daughter. That would drive a man immature.

Edited by GekkoRules on Thursday 5th November 20:14

And you're a wker.

Did it make you feel big resorting to abuse? I thought I'd try it too, but it doesn't really do much for me I'm afraid.

The OP's discussion with his wife ended with 'whatever' and 'grow up'. They sound like two 7 years olds in the playground. I bet the kid would swap the phone for having her parents not fight any day of the week. Now that would be a good christmas present, no offence intended OP.