I have a DD that is 11 & just finished 5th grade. My kids go to a private school & I only know of one kid who has a phone who is younger than middle school. That kid got one at maybe 8 & I believe it's because she has divorced parents & lives half-time each place. The parents of the kids there seem very resistant as am I. They do not use tablets in school outside of a computer class either. I'm glad about that as well. My kid will only get a basic (probably pre-programmed number dumb phone) once she (& siblings) walk home without an adult (maybe 7-8th grade).
My kids both got their first basic trac phone at 11. This was the start of middle school and when they started going places more often with friends, sans parents. I wanted a way to contact them.
When my oldest wanted a smart phone, (at age 13) we made him pay for one year of the increase in the bill for his added line. (I rarely purchase them electronics....want a new Xbox1? Save up!!). He took such good care of it, when he was eligible for upgrade we did get him a 6s. He was 15. DS2 on the other hand won't get a smartphone until he can pay for some of the expense and can prove that he can take care of a phone (he is now 13). He's left that cheap sucker so many places....I am not going into panic mode every time he leaves his new phone at a friend's. He has an iPod so he snspchats, etc. that way.
It is not unusual for kids in 3rd or 4th grade to have one. Our age 11 was 5 years ago.
Post by Shreddingbetty on Jun 2, 2016 10:21:52 GMT -5
My niece lives with us and she got her first non smart phone when she went into 8th grade as well as FB. No smart phone for her until she can pay for her own. I find it a bit disturbing that kids are expected to have smart phones for school use. That's not something everyone can afford necessarily and same for tablets. If the school wants them to have tablets they need to provide them for in class use. But we're mean, she has restrictions on her phone as well and it is shut of during school and at night. She can only call certain numbers at that time. Her sister had a phone when she came to live with us at 14 but she never got a smart phone. She looked into getting a smart phone her senior year but decided it cost too much (she got an allowance but it was usually spent before she even got it) and didn't get one herself until she graduated hs