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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Again, how will OP's daughter be able to signal for help if she is driving in her car and it breaks down? You are being deliberately obtuse. I get it that you don't like the punishment; however, the point remains that OP has determined that she is taking away the SmartPhone. She wants a Dumb Phone for her daughter to use in emergencies. Get over it, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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 ... [/ quote]

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.

Again, how will OP's daughter be able to signal for help if she is driving in her car and it breaks down? You are being deliberately obtuse. I get it that you don't like the punishment; however, the point remains that OP has determined that she is taking away the SmartPhone. She wants a Dumb Phone for her daughter to use in emergencies. Get over it, PP.

Her daughter will use her dumb phone to call for help obviously. I’m the poster who told her to try Walmart. Having a dumb phone while still having a laptop isn’t punishment. You r the one being obtuse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Again, how will OP's daughter be able to signal for help if she is driving in her car and it breaks down? You are being deliberately obtuse. I get it that you don't like the punishment; however, the point remains that OP has determined that she is taking away the SmartPhone. She wants a Dumb Phone for her daughter to use in emergencies. Get over it, PP.

Read the 3rd post on page 1. It’s from OP saying her daughter also lost car privileges. She’s not driving right now and it sounds like an old fashioned grounding. So no need for a phone for emergencies.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I am back. Yup, phone gone and didn't get a dumbphone. MacBook taken too. Made her use the school issued chrome book. No car, had to walk to the bus this morning (the shame!) She was sorry for what she did, but her excuse was she was going to get those grades up by end of marking period anyway, so why worry us. She did, on her own, set up meetings with her counselor and teachers. She seems determined to bail herself out. She is out and about today with no phone and I hope she comes home... I actually mean that.

I'm really angry, and hurt about the lying. I am shocked she didn't think we would know her real grades. I should also add we gave her some tasks where she could have her phone for half of the day (go to gym, clean up kitchen...) yet she has done nothing. Her laziness astounds me. And I realize this is not good college readiness, but making her go to a CC would be a punishment for all of us, and not help anything. She has been admitted by some solid universities too, I should add.

I know my original post was just where to buy a dumbphone, but thought I would just add this too. Thanks for all (well most) of the advice. I mean that.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the update, OP! Sounds like you did good.