Mobile Phones for kids?
Mobile Phones for kids?
Whats the SE collective wisdom on managing phones for children?
I want to:
- control data usage and stop if breaching limits
- monitor contacts
- Control app usage.
- ensure they can phone in an emergency if needed
How much is this done through the Carrier and how much through the OS. Apps obviously OS related.
Your musings are welcome and appreciated...
I want to:
- control data usage and stop if breaching limits
- monitor contacts
- Control app usage.
- ensure they can phone in an emergency if needed
How much is this done through the Carrier and how much through the OS. Apps obviously OS related.
Your musings are welcome and appreciated...
- rossybee
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Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Tesco allow capped data usage - I use it for my 20 & 17yr olds
As for limiting access to sites/apps etc I have recently seen a kiddie friendly smart phone but cannot recall its name, sorry
As for limiting access to sites/apps etc I have recently seen a kiddie friendly smart phone but cannot recall its name, sorry
Ross
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
- rossybee
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Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Here it is - seems to be the closest to my understanding of what you're maybe after?
https://www.tescomobile.com/shop/imo/s2 ... Q4QAvD_BwE
https://www.tescomobile.com/shop/imo/s2 ... Q4QAvD_BwE
Ross
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Thanks Ross.
From what I can see and other feedback you can go either PAYG or Contract and achieve similar control on data. Going to speak to a few operators further but this seems achievable and pretty standard.
The hard bit is the OS. Android provide very little support for managing phones like this. Microsoft did, but that OS is dead. IOS is streets ahead for family sharing and access management. But the phones are bloody expensive. I don't really want a child running about with £300 of tech on them, and the refurbed market seems to be a bit of a minefield. Looking at much cheaper android devices at the minute.
From what I can see and other feedback you can go either PAYG or Contract and achieve similar control on data. Going to speak to a few operators further but this seems achievable and pretty standard.
The hard bit is the OS. Android provide very little support for managing phones like this. Microsoft did, but that OS is dead. IOS is streets ahead for family sharing and access management. But the phones are bloody expensive. I don't really want a child running about with £300 of tech on them, and the refurbed market seems to be a bit of a minefield. Looking at much cheaper android devices at the minute.
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Having read further on it the Monqi solution is interesting as a restricted Android environment.
Mobile Phones for kids?
Hand me down, refurbed or carefully selected 2nd hand iPhone would be my suggestion. Just put a fresh battery in.
Or if you are quick, iPhone SE can still be had brand new for £200-£250.
We started both of ours on a Samsung J1 though. Worked well. And not enough horsepower to get them into much trouble
Teach Greg the value of the item, insure it (don’t tell him tho!), set some ground rules, and off you go
Welcome to the tween years...
Happy to chat through any time.
Or if you are quick, iPhone SE can still be had brand new for £200-£250.
We started both of ours on a Samsung J1 though. Worked well. And not enough horsepower to get them into much trouble
Teach Greg the value of the item, insure it (don’t tell him tho!), set some ground rules, and off you go
Welcome to the tween years...
Happy to chat through any time.
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy
- rossybee
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Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
I suppose I've had it relatively easy, as my kids first phones weren't smart, and then when they did get smartphones it was early HTC stuff etc.
So Campbell (and others with younger young uns) will be better qualified to furnish with current info
So Campbell (and others with younger young uns) will be better qualified to furnish with current info
Ross
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
125 quid for an iphone SE (secondhand). 50ish for new battery if it needs it, or 20 for a USB power brick.
Lassie in work has taken 4 phones to Apple for new batteries and twice they've buggered it up and given her a new phone.
Lassie in work has taken 4 phones to Apple for new batteries and twice they've buggered it up and given her a new phone.
'99 - '03 Titanium S1 111S.
'03 - '10 Starlight Black S2 111S
'11 - '17 S2 135R
'17 - '19 S2 Exige S+
'23 - ?? Evora
'03 - '10 Starlight Black S2 111S
'11 - '17 S2 135R
'17 - '19 S2 Exige S+
'23 - ?? Evora
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Brand new SE back in stock at John Lewis. 128gb. £249. 2 yr warranty. Awesome deal. Tempted to buy one as an investment.
https://www.johnlewis.com/apple-iphone- ... b/p3915150
https://www.johnlewis.com/apple-iphone- ... b/p3915150
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy
- Scottish Scrutineer
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Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Thanks Campbell, my SE is getting a bit old now and the charger port is temperamental. Might just go for one of those as a replacement (or spare). Must say I find the SE just the right physical size.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Renny Thomson
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Elise S2 (2002)
MSA Scrutineer
Elise S2 (2002)
- Stevoraith
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Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
R.e. The temperamental charger port, have you tried sticking a pin in it and fishing out all the pocket fluff!?
Every so often I find that the charger doesn’t ‘click’ into place like it should and a ton of fluff in the charger port is always the cause.
Every so often I find that the charger doesn’t ‘click’ into place like it should and a ton of fluff in the charger port is always the cause.
VX220 2.2 - Gone
BMW 335d Touring F31- Fastest car on the road
MINI Cooper 1.5- More fun than the BMW
BMW 335d Touring F31- Fastest car on the road
MINI Cooper 1.5- More fun than the BMW
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
I’ll ask my kids, well the 20 and 23 yr old kids and add to post with the detail
Will be iOS based but there is definitely ways to reduce and limit app access which is a slightly different angle but can’t remember what it does and control you have.
Impressed when off her own back, my daughter Katie decided to use the above at study/exam times #prouddad
You haven’t mentioned the biggest problem......
Managing the fallout as the children use whatever forms of social media and all the slagging, bitching, fall out, bully etc etc with each other - girls are a nightmare.
Even 6 years+ ago was a big problem at school, remember us having big issues with chat content Katie was in via blackberry messenger
Will be iOS based but there is definitely ways to reduce and limit app access which is a slightly different angle but can’t remember what it does and control you have.
Impressed when off her own back, my daughter Katie decided to use the above at study/exam times #prouddad
You haven’t mentioned the biggest problem......
Managing the fallout as the children use whatever forms of social media and all the slagging, bitching, fall out, bully etc etc with each other - girls are a nightmare.
Even 6 years+ ago was a big problem at school, remember us having big issues with chat content Katie was in via blackberry messenger
- rossybee
- Posts: 10977
- Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:13 pm
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Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
This 100% Ian.
Thankfully my Sophie is now 20 and at Uni away from home so has passed most of dealing with this behaviour, but at high school it can be truly horrendous.
Ross
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
---------
1972 Alfaholics Giulia Super
2000 Elise S1 Sport 160
2004 Bentley Conti GT
Now browsing the tech pages
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
That's the scary thing I reckon. But nothing is going to stop that. It happened in our day too, but maybe not as readily.
Well in the end I went for a contract that's attached to my existing account. It can be set not to exceed data limits etc and I can manage through my account. I got an Android smart phone for £65. Cheap enough that if it gets destroyed some how it's less of a blow. It's fast enough although can tell it's down on processing power.
It turned out that google has updated their kid controls. When I looked only 18 months ago they didn't do anything. Now you can add a child account and connect it to your own. It means you can control what apps are downloaded and set permissions for features remotely. So far it seems good enough. Time will tell.
Well in the end I went for a contract that's attached to my existing account. It can be set not to exceed data limits etc and I can manage through my account. I got an Android smart phone for £65. Cheap enough that if it gets destroyed some how it's less of a blow. It's fast enough although can tell it's down on processing power.
It turned out that google has updated their kid controls. When I looked only 18 months ago they didn't do anything. Now you can add a child account and connect it to your own. It means you can control what apps are downloaded and set permissions for features remotely. So far it seems good enough. Time will tell.
Re: Mobile Phones for kids?
Great progress, Ferg. Well done!
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy