So we were driving home in the car from school last week when Meme announced that she knew what she wanted for her 7th birthday. I was only half listening as she has only just turned 6 so I knew whatever doll or game she was going to say would be long forgotten by the time her 7th birthday came along. However, she soon caught my attention when she declared ‘I would like a mobile phone’!
Oh how I felt old – I didn’t know what a mobile phone was back when I was 6. Business people had them back in the 80’s, you would see them in the movies with a big black what looked like a brick glued to their ears. Oh and I always remember my child idol Anneka Rice having one on Challenge Anneka but not normal people and certainly not children.
I know times change but really, age 6!? She informed me that lots of people in year 4 had one, really, do they? Am I just being old fashioned? I actually remember my first mobile phone, I was 18 and my then boyfriend bought it for me. It was a Sony Erickson on T-mobile and I loved it! I could change the colour of the front of the phone to match my outfit and I was also the first out of all my friends to have one – I thought I was so cool! It was before the days of texting and camera phones and, frankly, when life was a lot simpler. When people still had to call each other, or when you most embarrassing moment isn’t caught on a camera phone. When we didn’t need 5G (click here if like me you’re still not quite sure what it is!!!)
I know we live in a digital world now and, when looking at my 3 year old navigate an Ipad, I do often wonder how different the world is now. I also know that there is no chance I will get away with Meme waiting until she is 18 before getting her first mobile phone BUT I do know it will be quite some time before I will even contemplate buying one for her (I am thinking maybe when she starts secondary school!) – I would love to hear your thoughts?
Ah Sony Erickson and T-Mobile…those where the days!
In Collaboration with Contact Telephone Numbers. If you happen to be on T-Mobile and need to speak with them you can find their number here – T – Mobile Telephone Number
Wow. I remember my first mobile phone, I was married!!! I do think everything happens younger these days. I always told mine they had to wait until their 11th birthday. I think it does children good to wait for things sometimes. Any younger and they actually won’t use it…worse still, they will use it! xx
Gosh, 6 years old and wanting a phone… I suppose at least she was willing to wait until she was the old-age of 7! I haven’t even thought about what is the right age to have a mobile phone but I had been thinking early teens or at least secondary school! I guess from a security perspective it’s good for them to have one but in reality won’t they end up broken or lost?! Let us know what you decide!
You’re right though about them being complex now. Whatever phone you get her will probably be more advanced than my first computer! I got my first phone when I was 17 or 18 (final year of 6th form anyway). I had a Phillips phone on BT Cellnet and it was amazing once I also had friends with phones. I upgraded to the Nokia 3310 for uni though and that was a massive step because it had snake!!!!
#FamilyFun
Wow six! That feels young. I wonder what on earth they do with it at that age. Do you remember snake? That was all the rage when I got my fisrt phone!! I was 16 and I bought it myself. It’s going to be a different world for our littles….. I just realised the previous commenter just referred to snake too! lol! Thanks for linking up to #familyfun
OH wow, although I highly doubt she is the only 6 year old with that on her wish list. My 8 year old cousin has one, he rarely uses it and it is a hand me down..but nonetheless he has one. It’s a tricky one isn’t it. I can’t foresee myself buying my 7 year old a mobile but my goodness they are so tech savvy these days that who knows what they will be like when mine turn 7. My two year old is scarily competent on the iPad so never say never I guess. Thanks so much for sharing at #familyfun xx
Yep I agree with you, seven is a bit early but probably high school age would make sense. I worry about it getting stolen from them at school though, what sad times we live in.
Nat.x
Yep children are wanting them earlier and earlier it seems! Lewis had one from 8, only because with his Dad and I being divorced it gave him a means of texting and ringing me while he was at his Dads house, and a way in which I could speak to him without going through his Dad. Now at 12 he has an iPhone 6, and is already asking for the iPhone 7! My first phone was a crappy BT Cellnet brick!!! #fabfridaypost
Wow! That’s crazy! I don’t think that’s old-fashioned of you, just smart. There’s no reason a 7 year old needs a cell phone, imo. I think they’re a good idea once your child starts after school activities/sports and hanging out with friends more. 🙂 #fabfridaypost
Ha ha, can’t blame her for trying! I used to love challenge Anika! I was 19 when I got my first one and had been adamant for ages that I didn’t need one and I wasn’t going to be like everyone else, oh how times change! I think secondary school is a good time to start thinking about phones, but definitely not before x
#FabFridayPost
I got my first mobile in 1997 (I was 16) and only because my Mum was fed up of not knowing where I was. My 10 year old has one, but she only uses it indoors – usually to take pictures and make videos. Plus she will start high school next year. I still don’t like her having one! I remember my old Nokia – I thought it was amazing! Sarah #FabFridayPost
OH my goodness I remember that phone!! She had it on T Mobile too and I had a Nokia 402 on Orange and thought it was the coolest thing ever :). A kid in Zs class has one. At the age of 5. My jaw hit the floor. I’m going to try put him off till he’s 11 and needs it for lifts and the such!
This is ver interesting. My also 2 year old knows how to turn on/ off the tablet and knows exactly where the icon of YouTube looks like. It is so scary isn’t it. I am not have to hid her pad from time to time! I think wait until secondary school – when they have a purpose of using it when they walk to/back from school, etc. For now or year 4… personally I don’t think they need one yet. Thank you so much for linking up with us on #FabFridayPost x
Nice Post.