flip-phone for 6th grader -- curious for your thoughts

[Anonymous]

For 5th and 6th grade our DD only had a flip phone and she could only call three people - Mom, Grandma, and Adult Best Friend/Emergency Contact. She needed nothing more, despite wanting a lot more. Of COURSE a 6th grader doesn't need free access to the internet, regardless of what they tell you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I would not bother. Just get her an old iPhone and use screentime to remove all the features you don’t want her to have. You can remove internet access altogether and disallow the downloading of apps. Is fairly easy and straightforward. Texting is easier and more user friendly on smartphones. If you go that route, you can allow additional features later on and not have to purchase a new phone.

I see some old iPhone 8's advertised online for $100. Is this model iPhone still usable?

Also, what is the advantage of an older iPhone for $100 to $150 versus a new Motorola for the same price?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, I would not bother. Just get her an old iPhone and use screentime to remove all the features you don’t want her to have. You can remove internet access altogether and disallow the downloading of apps. Is fairly easy and straightforward. Texting is easier and more user friendly on smartphones. If you go that route, you can allow additional features later on and not have to purchase a new phone.

I see some old iPhone 8's advertised online for $100. Is this model iPhone still usable?

Also, what is the advantage of an older iPhone for $100 to $150 versus a new Motorola for the same price?

One of my kids has an 8. Works fine. Just replaced the other kid’s - don’t even know what is was probably a 8 also?- with a refurbished SE and it was $150ish I think. I prefer iPhones but cheap old ones for my teens as they are not careful. Other parents may give newer phones but use warranty plans etc that cover breakage…IDK much about that.

If you have an iPhone, easiest to get the kids iPhone also, so that you have access to family Sharing and screentime and parental controls functions. May want to check with your cell phone provider about deals etc. I have my kids on a cheap separate prepaid plan for now.

[Anonymous]

+1 to all the old iphone suggestions here. It was worked great for my not-too-techy son in 6th grade. We set limits on individual apps, which makes it easy for him to get bored very quickly and screen time less of an issue, and we also set specific hours that he can use it. We use Mint Mobile, which is super cheap and works as well as any other service we've used.

[Anonymous]

Gabb phone or apple watch.

[Anonymous]

Do not get her a flip phone. Kids are cruel. It would be much better to get her a dumb phone that at least looks like what other kids have.
https://gabb.com/gabb-phone-z2/
https://www.pinwheel.com/howitworks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not get her a flip phone. Kids are cruel. It would be much better to get her a dumb phone that at least looks like what other kids have.
https://gabb.com/gabb-phone-z2/
https://www.pinwheel.com/howitworks

+100

If you aren’t going to her her a smartphone (which would be my suggestion) at least get something that doesn’t stand out so much

[Anonymous]

I would get a Gabb phone. We got a flip phone and there aren't many options now and phone we got was both expensive and fell apart quickly. Not to mention our kid could not get any group texts. Or you could get an apple watch instead of a phone

[Anonymous]

Good way to get your kid mocked

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP whose kid had a flip phone. The only one we could find had a small screen and because the phone was intended for the elderly, that screen was internet enabled with no ability to block any websites. In that respect, gabb is much better

[Anonymous]

You can’t get the most important apps to adolescents like TikTok, SnapChat, Insta, Discord etc. without those she will be a pariah and an outcast in middle school, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s damn near impossible to text on a flip
Phone. You will end up replacing it.

Also the kids mostly text via apps, not SMS

This, most kids don't even have each others phone numbers. Also, Apply Pay and other apps do help with day to day life in a variety of ways.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be nice to get a fun package with the smart phone: a marijuana assortment and a subscription to pole dancing lessons. Might as well get those started young as well.

To be less flippant, the relationship between mental health problems and smart phones is basically linear for girls up through eighteen. And for boys, though the slope is shallower.

Sample:

https://sapienlabs.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sapien-Labs-Age-of-First-Smartphone-and-Mental-Wellbeing-Outcomes.pdf

[Anonymous]

Apple Watch

[Anonymous]

My 6th grader has an IPhone but it’s the SE not an expensive one. She’s fine with it,