6th graders spent whole party on phones
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Anonymous
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My dd was in a friend group like this. It was awful. The one party I stayed at because I was asked by the host mom to hang out with her (been friends a long time) the girls were messaging other kids not at the party about how much fun they were having, but they weren't actually having real fun, they would just gather together in different areas and pose "as if we're having fun." And then look at YouTube shorts.
I asked my friend if we should do something and she was like "no, I told dd I wouldn't interfere with her party and they're all so excited about their new phones (first year of middle school), let them have fun." Except they weren't. Thankfully my dd thought that scene was boring and has found a new group mostly without Internet access on their phones (locked down or dumb phones or just watches). They're not the popular girls, but I think she's relieved to be out of that clique. And I'm not as close with that mom as out parenting philosophies diverged quite a lot throughout middle school years, but that's a different story. |
Anonymous
A bit babyish for 12. Sorry op. |
Anonymous
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That sounds horrible. I'm sorry, OP. Those kids have no manners.
Similar happened to my kid in 6th when having a group over for pizza and movies. The girls with phones were huddled up on TikTok the whole time. My kid was miserable. In 7th now, they all have phones and much of the novelty has worn off. Lots of video and photo taking, but they actually interact more, which is a relief. |
Anonymous
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OP,
And it is this kind of situation that our kids don't get (smart) phones until high school, and they must have good grades as well (3.0 minimum.) When friends of kids come to the house they know phones get put in a basket at the front door. |
Anonymous
Better than the limo restaurant parties followed by basement hangout with boys and girls unsupervised for 12 year olds. That was common 10 years ago with my oldest. Not sure if still popular. My younger one is not into boys. |
Anonymous
In that case, it might be more polite to decline the invitation. |
Anonymous
Whatever your opinion, or a kid's opinion of the party, may be, that doesn't mean you need to accept kids being on their phones. We're all so intolerant, and so are kids, of boredom. Be bored! It won't kill you. It's better than needing your phone for constant dopamine infusions. I give limited screentime for my kids, and they are still playing this ongoing imaginative game, even at ages 12 and 9. I'm sorry for your daughter, OP, and I recommend collecting phones at the door for parties like this. We did and the kids didn't make a big deal and my daughter said she was very happy not to have them. None of her friends made a peep of complaint. Everyone's kids and their friends will be different, but you are the parent and have the right to choose how things go down in your house. |
Anonymous
+10000 |
Anonymous
+2 |
Anonymous
My DS didn't have one until he started 8th grade. He was the last kid in his grade to get one (verified by teachers who collected them every morning in homeroom). |
Anonymous
I know plenty of kids, including my own, who have Apple Watches instead of phones. |
Anonymous
I’m sorry, this is well meaning but not realistic |
Anonymous
Yes. Crafts are boring. -don’t have TikTok |
Anonymous
This. More like 6 or 7. |
Anonymous
If only there were options in between. Oh, wait! Good news! There are. 
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