According to Miss Frugal, now she’s 8 she’s practically grown up. This means that she expects to be able to do things that she hasn’t been allowed to do before, I’m a bit more easy going than Mr Frugal so we’re had a few arguments discussions over what she can and can’t do.
So, I thought I would ask your opinion on how old you think is old enough….
….For a mobile phone
She’s had a mobile for a while now and always carries it round in her little handbag. The phone that she had was the most basic model ever made and was fine for a 7 year old but an 8 year old needs a much better phone apparently, so she decided to spend her birthday money on a new all singing, all dancing phone. Well, as all singing, all dancing as a phone costing £30.00 can be.
The phone she chose is a pink touchscreen model with a camera, an MP3 player and games and she’s been quite happily texting away since she got it.
I don’t mind her having a mobile but when I was talking to one of my friends about it she says that 8 is way too young to have a phone and she would be inclined to wait until senior school.
….To go out to play
I recently let Miss Frugal play in the next street outside her friends house but I was a nervous wreck. I hate not being able to see her but I know I need to let go a little bit and encourage her independence. The only problem is that she now wants to go further afield as her 11 year old cousin keeps asking if she can take her to the park. I said yes initially as the park is only a 5 minute walk from our house and her cousin is very sensible but Mr Frugal has put his foot down whoch has made me wonder and now I’m not sure myself.
….For Facebook / Twitter
This doesn’t affect us at the moment as Miss Frugal is into Moshi Monsters at the moment and is unaware of the existence of these sites at the moment but I’m just curious as to what age you would let your children go on social networking sites, and would you insist on being added as a friend so you can see what they’re up to?
….To choose their own clothes
Miss Frugal will not wear something she doesn’t want to wear – does that mean she’s spoilt or should I be proud that she knows what she wants. I don’t usually buy clothes for her unless she’s with me as there is a huuuge difference in the things I like and the outfits she would choose for herself. However, I did buy her a pair of denim dungarees (they were nicer than they sounded) about a month ago and they went down like a lead balloon, she refused to wear them because she said they made her look like a farmer! When I told one of my friends they said they would have forced their daughter to wear them if they had spend money on them which I totally disagree with.
….For Pocketmoney
I’m not so sure about this one. I would rather just give her money for what she needs as and when at this age and a token amount each week to help her learn to save and I can teach her to learn to budget and all the important grown up stuff later but part of me thinks that I should start now and make her save for the things that she wants.
I’m sat here like a sponge waiting to soak up all of your advice, so come on, hit me with it 😉
*Disclaimer* Any comments that agree with Mr Frugal’s point of view shall be deleted….
(only joking)
