12 year old getting first phone

[Anonymous]

You have a lot more control of a 7th and 8th grader than a HS student.

They need to learn what to do and what not to do, this is a good time to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised at many of these responses. My daughters got them at 12 and most (80% probably) of their friends have them. We haven't had any issues.

I am the PP who suggested rules around pictures. I found two things - first is that you can't control what gets sent to your kids (obvious) and second is that kids are oblivious and only see what they are looking for in photos. So, sometimes the main reason for the photo is fine, but in the background are things that shouldn't be sent (or photo shouldn't even have been taken). These were the biggest two things I ran into with my kids.

Also, just about every parent I know has found inappropriate photos that were sent and/or received and it started at a very young age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Surprised at many of these responses. My daughters got them at 12 and most (80% probably) of their friends have them. We haven't had any issues.

I am the PP who suggested rules around pictures. I found two things - first is that you can't control what gets sent to your kids (obvious) and second is that kids are oblivious and only see what they are looking for in photos. So, sometimes the main reason for the photo is fine, but in the background are things that shouldn't be sent (or photo shouldn't even have been taken). These were the biggest two things I ran into with my kids.

Also, just about every parent I know has found inappropriate photos that were sent and/or received and it started at a very young age.

How are people getting your kid's cell number PP? There are lots of messaging apps that a dangerous, but using the regular phone messaging system shouldn't be an issue unless your dc is sharing cell # with the world. The key, I believe, is to regulate what apps dc downloads.

[Anonymous]

Iphones have lots of ways parents can restrict usage. You can prevent internet access, installing apps, deleting apps, in app purchases, even the ability to use the camera. Go into settings, general, restrictions. The restrictions feature is how we decide what apps dc can have and not have. As a PP said, it is the apps (especially social media apps) that can be dangerous and expose him/her to threats.

[Anonymous]

Thx for this info. on aps!!!

[Anonymous]

My DD got her first phone at 12, too. No issues yet. She doesn't abuse it, doesn't go on instagram or other sharing sites yet. I do monitor her texts.
I believe it's best for her to have it now, while I have a little more control over guiding her on proper and improper use of a cell phone. We've had many good conversations about texting (use of appropriate vs inapprop. language), sending pictures, etc.
I'm with another poster in that 75% of more of the kids in her 6th grade class had a phone.