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Keep kids off the mobile
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| TALK TALK: A survey says the under-11s should not have phones |
CHILDREN should not be given their first mobile phone until they are at least 11 years old according to an on-line poll by Merseyside charity Parentline Plus.
The majority of 427 parents who responded to the organisation's national survey believe their youngsters should wait until they were aged between 11 and 13 before getting their first mobile, while 27 per cent felt they should be 14 or over.
Only 26 per cent of those questioned were happy to allow their child to have a mobile under the age of 10.
Claire Andre, area manager for Parentline Plus says parents often give into pester power to buy their child a mobile phone from an early age, with mobile phones specially designed for four-year-olds even being on sale.
She said: "Children today are really into gadgets - whether it be the latest all-singing, all-dancing mobile phone or a games console - and mums and dads are bound to get pestered about buying their child his or her first mobile phone at some point.
"It's important to resist pester power but to make a considered decision, and if you do feel your child is ready to have a mobile, to set some ground rules to make sure you and your child get the most out of it."
| "It’s important to resist pester power but to make a considered decision" | | Claire Andre |
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The national charity offers parent to parent support on the phone, by e-mail, through its website and face to face from 14 local centres around the country.
Its website www.parentlineplus.org.uk has a wealth of information for parents with children of all ages and message boards for parents to share experiences and support each other.
It also features a quick guide for parents coming under pressure to buy a mobile phone for their child and suggests saying no If you have decided you won't get your child if they are too young or you cannot afford one.
If you do but a phone, the advice is to ban its use in the bedroom at night. Research shows that children or adults do not sleep as soundly if the mobile is by the bed as we are always listening out for that text or phone ring - which makes us tired and less able to concentrate.
9:07am Sunday 11th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Jim the Teller on 6:49pm Wed 14 May 08
I have seen several large bald headed babies using mobile phones and even blue tooth ear pieces, whilst driving!!!. They usually have redundant looks on their faces, little or no awareness of their surroundings and phone numbers on the sides of their cars. I think these cumbersome halfwit infants should be placed in a padded room with no mobiles and no cars until they are sensible enough to have them.
I have seen several large bald headed babies using mobile phones and even blue tooth ear pieces, whilst driving!!!. They usually have redundant looks on their faces, little or no awareness of their surroundings and phone numbers on the sides of their cars. I think these cumbersome halfwit infants should be placed in a padded room with no mobiles and no cars until they are sensible enough to have them.
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