My two eldest children have mobile phones. Prepaid only. We decided as a safety thing that it would be a good idea for them to have one. They don't have them stuck to their heads 24/7.

Best thing we have done safety wise since they have a little more freedom now they are older.

I can understand your concerns with giving your child a mobile phone but it sounds like you can get one that provides you with the reassurance that your child will be safe AND won't be able to call everyone under the sun.  lol.  Good luck with your decision.  I think a phone is a great way to help your child learn responsibility. 

Jayde is 6, she has a mobile phone. its a prepaid one with only my number, my dads number and my mums number in the address book. i got it for her so that when she is at her dads house she can call me and i can call her. he doesnt always have his phone on so its good to know i can call her whenever... he lives in another state so she only gets to use it when she flys over there.

u can get kid phones from telstra that only let them call 3 selected numbers.

xoxox

ok i have a better 1

http://www.swapace.com/items/52394/i-kids_Mobile_Phone_-_Blue-Steel/

it says -Kids handsets can receive calls from other land line and mobile phones but can only make calls to the four pre programmed numbers that have been set by the child's parent. Parents can change these pre programmed numbers via this website, just log into the secure site from the 'home page'. i-Kids telephone numbers are not available through directory assistance. Receiving SMS i-Kids can only receive SMS messages from other mobile users. i-Kids do not support the creating or sending of SMS from the handset. Search and find via GPS i-Kids use state of the art GPS technology, enabling you to trace i-Kids even when the device is switched off*^. You can locate your child through internet, WAP or SMS. You can receive the exact location of your child in detailed maps. Emergency Alarm Button i-Kids have an Emergency Alarm button which will, when pressed, attempt to call each of the four pre programmed numbers (1 through to 4) until one of the numbers is connected. This functionality will allow the person at the other end to assess the situation and alert the necessary individuals.

hope this helps

tassie

I think with mobiles it differs in children its there maturity..........there are special phones designed for children where you can put 10 or so numbers in it and they can ring those numbers and as far as in coming calls i am not 100% sure i guess the numbers that you put in can ring i am looking for it online there is a phone called the gecko phone http://www.geckoworld.com.au/phone-glance.htm

i will look more but its a start