Why should DC have a phone?
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Anonymous
| DC is trying to convince me to get him an iPhone, but not sure if it is actually helpful. He is going into 9th grade to a math/science school. |
Anonymous
| My 8th grade DS has a phone because it's useful for me to communicate with him and group texting is a huge part of how the kids communicate both socially and for group projects. But, he doesn't have an iPhone. He has an Android phone that cost about $200 on a family no-contract plan where his additional line costs us $10/month. At that price it's definitely worth it for us. |
Anonymous
What are his arguments? Do you agree with them? |
Anonymous
| Do you live in the city or suburbs? |
Anonymous
|
My now 8th grader got one at the end of 4th grade when she started taking mass transit to school. These days she doesn't have to call me when she's arrived at school, but does have to call after school to ask if she can go to a friend's house or to a part of the city, etc.
She calls if she's stuck on the train and running late. She makes plans with her friends via texting. She tracks her period on an app. She plays Pokeman Go. She checks directions to get places, when the next bus is coming, store hours, etc. |
Anonymous
This coming year (September 6th), he is going to TJ. The school is about an hour and a half away. He says that there may be days where communication is necessary, and using a friends phone just gets embarrassing. Also, he says he wants to stay in contact with his friends from his middle school. |
Anonymous
Herndon |
Anonymous
Most out of school communication among teenagers takes place either via text/group chat or social media. As much as it forces your hand, your DS will have a hard time getting involved with friends and classmates socially without a smart phone. In addition, hopefully he will get involved in school activities requiring you to pick him up at different times and having a phone to coordinate that with you makes it much easier. |
Anonymous
Why not a simple flip phone? More than enough for voice and text, and little/ no distractions |
Anonymous
+1. And, if your kid got into TJ, he's doing something right! Give him some slack and let him show you how mature he is! |
Anonymous
Because it's hard to text on a flip phone and no one in high school has them anymore. Kid sounds like a good kid. Don't punish him by forcing a flip phone on him! |
Anonymous
+1. It's probably less embarrassing to just keep using a friend's phone than a flip phone. His arguments are sound. That's a long commute. I'd be nervous if I couldn't contact my child for the length of that commute on a daily basis, especially if there were ever a change of plans. It will be socially inhibiting for him not to have a phone. |
Anonymous
You can't do group chats on a flip phone. |
Anonymous
| I looked into flip phones and actually it was cheaper to get a cheap smartphone than to get a flip phone (not sure my kid found his windows phone less embarassing or not) |
Anonymous
I think he has made a good case, I'd get him the phone. |