The skids all got the Firefly/Jitterbug phones when they were about that age. They had mom, dad, step dad and closest grandparents phone numbers programmed in.
It helped them feel in control when they were out and wanted to call a parent. It also gave them the opportunity to show some responsibility for a phone. OSS and SD were able to graduate to phones with texting in middle school and then smart phones in HS but YSS, who is now in HS, broke, washed or lost a couple of the basic phones only has a basic phone with text to this day since he showed he can't be responsible for a more expensive smart phone.
ETA: DH loved it because he wasn't dependent on the Ex to be around the kids to talk to them. They don't have a landline and she was awful about giving the kids access to her phone.
Post by textbookcase on Sept 20, 2014 14:20:53 GMT -5
We're probably going to get one for Cambria soon. She's 10 and in 5th grade. I'd like for her to be able to contact me in certain instances, like if soccer practice is out early, if she needs to call from a friend's house, and when I run to the store, etc. and she's home alone. We don't have a landline.
Post by penguingrrl on Sept 20, 2014 16:08:40 GMT -5
I plan to give my kids phones once they're old enough to be walking/biking places without me and that will hopefully be within the next year. My second grader is mature and responsible and I want her to start earning more independence with limits. A phone so I can reach her or she can reach me seems like a no brainer if she's walking/biking somewhere without an adult.
I know we didn't have them and all survived, but there were also pay phones around everywhere that are no longer there. And my mom has said a million times that I'm so lucky to have that option for my kids and that had the option been there we would have had them once we were turned loose.
They won't get smartphones before HS if that early (can't say anything absolute at this point), but something so they can call me or 911 in an emergency seems like good sense.