At what age are my child's peers going to expect my kid to have a recent top of the line smartphone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is like top of the line sneakers, more important to lower classes than wealthier kids.

No because top of the line sneakers is not a necessity but a phone of some kind is a necessity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Considering, I don't have a top of the line smartphone, my child won't either.

Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Why cant we just go back to the days of communication via pigeon?

[Anonymous]

My 14 year old still doesn't have a phone at all. No pressure from his friends so far. Nor has he been pressuring us for one.

He'll get one for Christmas if he brings his grades up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our neck of the woods, most parents gave it as a 5th grade graduation gift. By middle school, most kids had one.

Us too. We got him one when he started 6th and he was one of the last kids to get one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our neck of the woods, most parents gave it as a 5th grade graduation gift. By middle school, most kids had one.

Us too. We got him one when he started 6th and he was one of the last kids to get one.

+1 The kids use it in school sometimes in lieu of a laptop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our neck of the woods, most parents gave it as a 5th grade graduation gift. By middle school, most kids had one.

Us too. We got him one when he started 6th and he was one of the last kids to get one.

Gross. 5th grade graduation. Seriously?

We never “graduated” from elementary school. We finished it. We certainly didn’t get expensive presents for moving up to middle school.

There is so much wrong on this thread and the parents giving kids everything they want so they can be just like everyone else.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read the other responses, but my answer is simple. You'll know when the child asks for one. And the answer should be no.

[Anonymous]

My child is in fifth and even a phone is a long ways off for us. I’m going to push it as long as I see fit. I have yet to be sold on any real advantage in introducing one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares. Be a parent. Mine is 12 and while we can afford it, it is something we will give a 6th grader.

He’s fine and happy. Who are these parents that are so concerned about popularity and keeping up with the Joneses?

“not something”

Totally agree. My 11 yo isn’t mature enough to manage. I don’t care what anybody else is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our neck of the woods, most parents gave it as a 5th grade graduation gift. By middle school, most kids had one.

Us too. We got him one when he started 6th and he was one of the last kids to get one.

Gross. 5th grade graduation. Seriously?

We never “graduated” from elementary school. We finished it. We certainly didn’t get expensive presents for moving up to middle school.

There is so much wrong on this thread and the parents giving kids everything they want so they can be just like everyone else.

I did. In 1979. A public school in the midwest.

[Anonymous]

I am not going to pay $400.

Hell, I am not going to pay $100 for something can be easily snatched away from my child's hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why cant we just go back to the days of communication via pigeon?

Have you seen DC pigeons lately? Half can't be bothered to fly away when you're driving down the street in their direction. If you want your message delivered on time, it's ravens or nothing.

[Anonymous]

In our neighborhood, some have them in 5th (last year of elementary), many get them the summer before middle school, and some get them after that. My daughter is agitating for one. I don't have a philosophical objection to getting her one during the summer before middle school (yes, I know, I'm a terrible parent), but th epotential for losing it troubles me a bit. I also may go the "no data plan" route suggested by a PP - texting and wifi in the house should be fine.

One thing is for sure - she's absolutely not getting a "recent top of the line smartphone." She may get my old iphone SE, which will be at least 2.5 years old at the time. If I decide to keep it, she'll get something similar, and used. And if she loses it, she pays for the replacement. I'm not getting an iphone X, and she's sure as heck not.

[Anonymous]

Don't most of these high schoolers just use these phones to send provocative to one another anyway?