Dumb-phone for screen addicted teen - any advice where to buy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems bizarre for an 18 yo but is it’s really a punishment, why are you getting her a different phone? Why not take it away completely? It seems like a huge hassle for a month. I’m assuming she has access to some tech somewhere on a laptop to do everything a smartphone can do.

If it’s for “emergencies” then the real punishment should be not going out for a month to parties or whatever she does where she would need an emergency phone. All of us were driving without cell phones at 18.

Exactly. Sounds like how you would treat an 8 yr old more than an adult. Lying about grades, taking away phone as punishment, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 yo has a Gabb phone, talk and text only.

+1 it is easy to order/set up

+2 for the Gabb phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems bizarre for an 18 yo but is it’s really a punishment, why are you getting her a different phone? Why not take it away completely? It seems like a huge hassle for a month. I’m assuming she has access to some tech somewhere on a laptop to do everything a smartphone can do.

If it’s for “emergencies” then the real punishment should be not going out for a month to parties or whatever she does where she would need an emergency phone. All of us were driving without cell phones at 18.

Exactly. Sounds like how you would treat an 8 yr old more than an adult. Lying about grades, taking away phone as punishment, etc.

??? This is an 18 year old high school student, not an adult. Of course she needs a consequence for bad / unsafe behavior. As a parent I would want her to have a phone for emergency use but I can see why the OP wants it to be for talk and text only. Today is different from 20-30 years ago when we were all high schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems bizarre for an 18 yo but is it’s really a punishment, why are you getting her a different phone? Why not take it away completely? It seems like a huge hassle for a month. I’m assuming she has access to some tech somewhere on a laptop to do everything a smartphone can do.

If it’s for “emergencies” then the real punishment should be not going out for a month to parties or whatever she does where she would need an emergency phone. All of us were driving without cell phones at 18.

Exactly. Sounds like how you would treat an 8 yr old more than an adult. Lying about grades, taking away phone as punishment, etc.

??? This is an 18 year old high school student, not an adult. Of course she needs a consequence for bad / unsafe behavior. As a parent I would want her to have a phone for emergency use but I can see why the OP wants it to be for talk and text only. Today is different from 20-30 years ago when we were all high schoolers.

All high schoolers are on a laptop for school unlike 20-30 yrs ago. What’s the point of no smartphone for a month when she has a laptop? Trying to teach self regulation for electronics for an 18 yr old is a losing battle. And it’s always parents who held rigid control over electronics use who have kids like this.

[Anonymous]

The mother (OP) has decided on a punishment for her child. Why are you challenging her decision?

[Anonymous]

18 is NOT an adult, except legally. Her brain won’t be fully formed until age 25- she can’t even rent a car until then. Absolutely she should feel the deprivations that life has in store for her if she can’t meet her responsibilities. I would not threaten community college- it’s hollow and punishes her parents. I would definitely take away phone and car privileges. Try and spend more time with her and bond a little bit- try to find out what is going on with grades. Maybe she needs to read a few articles or do some
Volunteering to understand her privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since she is an adult, she can go get her own phone. Also limiting screen time for an adult is only going to ruin your relationship and do nothing to bring her grades up. Are you always this controlling?

OP did the right thing. An adult lied to her. Why pay for an IPhone? It's not controlling. You sound spoiled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
18 is NOT an adult, except legally. Her brain won’t be fully formed until age 25- she can’t even rent a car until then. Absolutely she should feel the deprivations that life has in store for her if she can’t meet her responsibilities. I would not threaten community college- it’s hollow and punishes her parents. I would definitely take away phone and car privileges. Try and spend more time with her and bond a little bit- try to find out what is going on with grades. Maybe she needs to read a few articles or do some
Volunteering to understand her privilege.

Tired of the fully formed brain excuse. My 8 year old knows what a lie is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The mother (OP) has decided on a punishment for her child. Why are you challenging her decision?

We aren’t, we are just asking questions since her punishment sounds like more of a pain for OP without real consequences. OP is still paying for the smart phone when it’s not being used and not buying an additional, temporary phone. Some of us are pointing out that with a laptop, her daughter really won’t be limited at all even if her temporary phone only had talk and text.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems bizarre for an 18 yo but is it’s really a punishment, why are you getting her a different phone? Why not take it away completely? It seems like a huge hassle for a month. I’m assuming she has access to some tech somewhere on a laptop to do everything a smartphone can do.

If it’s for “emergencies” then the real punishment should be not going out for a month to parties or whatever she does where she would need an emergency phone. All of us were driving without cell phones at 18.

Exactly. Sounds like how you would treat an 8 yr old more than an adult. Lying about grades, taking away phone as punishment, etc.

??? This is an 18 year old high school student, not an adult. Of course she needs a consequence for bad / unsafe behavior. As a parent I would want her to have a phone for emergency use but I can see why the OP wants it to be for talk and text only. Today is different from 20-30 years ago when we were all high schoolers.

All high schoolers are on a laptop for school unlike 20-30 yrs ago. What’s the point of no smartphone for a month when she has a laptop? Trying to teach self regulation for electronics for an 18 yr old is a losing battle. And it’s always parents who held rigid control over electronics use who have kids like this.

Huh. So when the 18 year old is driving home and the car breaks down, how will she use the laptop to call for assistance? Does AAA respond to emails promptly? Just wondering since you seem to know it all ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 yo has a Gabb phone, talk and text only.

+1 it is easy to order/set up

+2 for the Gabb phone.

This is 9:27 poster. Appreciate the suggestions from everyone, I ordered the Gabb phone with the most basic plan, month-to-month until we determine it works well for our family. Best of luck to OP as well, sounds like a challenging situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 yo has a Gabb phone, talk and text only.

+1 it is easy to order/set up

+2 for the Gabb phone.

NP here. For a kid whose friends do a lot of iMessage group chats, what are the options for talk and text only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 yo has a Gabb phone, talk and text only.

+1 it is easy to order/set up

+2 for the Gabb phone.

NP here. For a kid whose friends do a lot of iMessage group chats, what are the options for talk and text only?

I’m the person who just signed up for Gabb. Phone was $99 with a discount code. $24.99 plus tax for voice and simple text (no group texts and no sending photos). For an additional $5 per month one could get capability for group texts and texting photos.

[Anonymous]

She lied. Don’t be afraid to punish her for bad behavior. What will she do next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems bizarre for an 18 yo but is it’s really a punishment, why are you getting her a different phone? Why not take it away completely? It seems like a huge hassle for a month. I’m assuming she has access to some tech somewhere on a laptop to do everything a smartphone can do.

If it’s for “emergencies” then the real punishment should be not going out for a month to parties or whatever she does where she would need an emergency phone. All of us were driving without cell phones at 18.

Exactly. Sounds like how you would treat an 8 yr old more than an adult. Lying about grades, taking away phone as punishment, etc.

??? This is an 18 year old high school student, not an adult. Of course she needs a consequence for bad / unsafe behavior. As a parent I would want her to have a phone for emergency use but I can see why the OP wants it to be for talk and text only. Today is different from 20-30 years ago when we were all high schoolers.

All high schoolers are on a laptop for school unlike 20-30 yrs ago. What’s the point of no smartphone for a month when she has a laptop? Trying to teach self regulation for electronics for an 18 yr old is a losing battle. And it’s always parents who held rigid control over electronics use who have kids like this.

Huh. So when the 18 year old is driving home and the car breaks down, how will she use the laptop to call for assistance? Does AAA respond to emails promptly? Just wondering since you seem to know it all ...

Op is buying her a phone while also paying for her smartphone. Her daughter will be using her laptop to everything else that she usually does on her smartphone. How is this punishment? The person most inconvenienced is OP.