Wait Until 8th

[Anonymous]

https://www.waituntil8th.org/

This organization is profiled in the NY Times today:

In schools and communities across the country, parents are signing documents pledging not to give their children smartphones until after middle school. The idea, organizers say, is that if parents take action together, their children are less likely to feel isolated because they aren’t the only ones without TikTok in their pockets.

Considering the prevalence of smartphone use among young people, it’s a bold step: Research from Common Sense, a nonprofit organization that provides technology reviews for families, shows that half of children in the United States own cellphones by age 11 — roughly fifth or sixth grade.

This still doesn't help us at the high school level, but at least your kids might come in somewhat better prepared if they haven't had cell phones until 8th (not to mention the effects on mental health). And if you're in the "my kid is fine because they have a 4.0" crowd, consider the possibility that their 4.0 is due to lower standards and much easier grading (ask me how I know).

[Anonymous]

Just had this talk with my husband. Our youngest is going into 5th and asking when she can get one. Our oldest got one in 6th but doesn’t take it with her other than to school or use it for much other than to text us she’s off the bus and listening to music. My youngest is another story and I could easily see her getting caught up in dramatic group chats and text fiascos. For her 8th is definitely more on the earliest end we’d consider it.

I teach high school and see every day what these phones do to kids. We’re going to look back one day the way we do now when see pictures of 8 year olds in coal mines and never believe we allowed our kids these devices so early. Just terrible what it does to them.

[Anonymous]

As the parent of a rising 6th grader, I think there's a real need for appropriate in between technology. My almost 11 yo would love a device to listen to music on while walking the dog. She also does need a way to text parents, babysitter and grandparents to arrange drop offs and pick ups, as well as for forgotten items. But I don't want her on social media, on unsupervised internet, or in massive text chains with other kids. I can see why parents cave by 6th or 7th grade--there aren't a lot of appropriate device options.

Lots of parents have done an Apple watch for this age group, but I don't love the big text chains and how distracted kids get with games on their watch. It also doesn't have the music function I want and we're not an Apple family so Id have to switch myself to an iPhone, which I don't want to do. Other kid-watches like the Gizmo seem too young for an 11 or 12 yo. We have a different version and it's okay for calling, but super glitchy with short battery life.

If someone came up with a great tween option, it would sell fabulously.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand the constant cell phone posts lately. Parent your own kid. Wait as long as you want but stop trying to control how other parents raise their kids. This is one of many battles you will have. The kids will get older and you will hear how “everyone” else is allowed to ride in cars with teens, or had their own car, or doesn’t have a curfew, or has a later curfew, is allowed to date, or is allowed to drink… you don’t see constant posts about wait until xyz on those issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the constant cell phone posts lately. Parent your own kid. Wait as long as you want but stop trying to control how other parents raise their kids. This is one of many battles you will have. The kids will get older and you will hear how “everyone” else is allowed to ride in cars with teens, or had their own car, or doesn’t have a curfew, or has a later curfew, is allowed to date, or is allowed to drink… you don’t see constant posts about wait until xyz on those issues.

Because phones have a network effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the constant cell phone posts lately. Parent your own kid. Wait as long as you want but stop trying to control how other parents raise their kids. This is one of many battles you will have. The kids will get older and you will hear how “everyone” else is allowed to ride in cars with teens, or had their own car, or doesn’t have a curfew, or has a later curfew, is allowed to date, or is allowed to drink… you don’t see constant posts about wait until xyz on those issues.

Because phones have a network effect.

+1
It’s not a decision that only impacts your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand the constant cell phone posts lately. Parent your own kid. Wait as long as you want but stop trying to control how other parents raise their kids. This is one of many battles you will have. The kids will get older and you will hear how “everyone” else is allowed to ride in cars with teens, or had their own car, or doesn’t have a curfew, or has a later curfew, is allowed to date, or is allowed to drink… you don’t see constant posts about wait until xyz on those issues.

No one is forcing anybody. If you're in the group that lets their kids drink or have sex before a certain age, no one is going to argue with you. Driving might be a bit more challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just had this talk with my husband. Our youngest is going into 5th and asking when she can get one. Our oldest got one in 6th but doesn’t take it with her other than to school or use it for much other than to text us she’s off the bus and listening to music. My youngest is another story and I could easily see her getting caught up in dramatic group chats and text fiascos. For her 8th is definitely more on the earliest end we’d consider it.

I teach high school and see every day what these phones do to kids. We’re going to look back one day the way we do now when see pictures of 8 year olds in coal mines and never believe we allowed our kids these devices so early. Just terrible what it does to them.

Teacher here and I agree that we're really harming kids.

I doubt this movement will do much. Kids stopped laboring because of laws.

[Anonymous]

We waited until 8th for our oldest. Now I'm considering waiting until 16 for my youngest. And reconsidering our current phone restrictions for our oldest.

There are some positives for having a phone but tremendous negatives. For kids and adults.

[Anonymous]

We are two teachers, one in ES and one in MS. MS spouse says that cell phones weren’t much of a problem for most of the SY. The admin is pretty quick to confiscate the phones and as soon as that started to happen the students decided they’d keep them put away rather than lose them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
https://www.waituntil8th.org/

This organization is profiled in the NY Times today:

In schools and communities across the country, parents are signing documents pledging not to give their children smartphones until after middle school. The idea, organizers say, is that if parents take action together, their children are less likely to feel isolated because they aren’t the only ones without TikTok in their pockets.

Considering the prevalence of smartphone use among young people, it’s a bold step: Research from Common Sense, a nonprofit organization that provides technology reviews for families, shows that half of children in the United States own cellphones by age 11 — roughly fifth or sixth grade.

This still doesn't help us at the high school level, but at least your kids might come in somewhat better prepared if they haven't had cell phones until 8th (not to mention the effects on mental health). And if you're in the "my kid is fine because they have a 4.0" crowd, consider the possibility that their 4.0 is due to lower standards and much easier grading (ask me how I know).

100% with you. Waiting until 9th and maybe later. Have 7th grader and she’s getting less annoyed as she sees her peers in comatose with necks cranked down on phones and not communicating verbally with anyone at lunch or breaks. She has strong social life and although people say hey your kid is missing out on things, they really aren’t.

[Anonymous]

We wait until Christmas of freshman year.

[Anonymous]

I agree, actually wait til high school. Let them be kids as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

This has been our plan all along - "you can get a phone when you turn 13 if we think you are ready for it". That said, I think we are going to get our kids a gizmo or similar watch so that they can text us if necessary - it's a lot harder to find a phone nowadays than when my parents used to give me a few quarters and say "call if you need something" .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are two teachers, one in ES and one in MS. MS spouse says that cell phones weren’t much of a problem for most of the SY. The admin is pretty quick to confiscate the phones and as soon as that started to happen the students decided they’d keep them put away rather than lose them.

Unfortunately a lot of schools don't do this - I'm looking at you, FCPS and your bullshit restorative justice crap. I'm about as liberal as you can get, but I still believe in consequences.