6th.

beginning of middle school, 6th grade

8:42 and with our second, there has definitely been girl drama but it’s been more of the age and middle school. It would happen with or without the phone. I supposed she wouldn’t know the gossip and meanness as quick and that would be shut down, but it doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be happening. There hasn’t been any specific phone issues.

5th grade for DC1. It was an old iPhone 4 and we locked down everything on it. Couldn’t take to school until 8th.

6th grade for DC2 with a lot less restrictions than DC1 had. No issues with either kid.

9th.

Sixth grade, mostly because they were taking the subway or city bus to school on their own. No issues.

Oldest was just shy of 12 at the end of fifth grade. It was earlier than we had planned but it was Spring 2020 and they were isolated from friends. We had (still have) clear rules in place with limits. No social media until almost 2 years later.
We’ve had no problems at all.

Had the same rules in place for our second and , again, no issues.

DC1 right before 7th grade
DC2 middle of 6th - at this time kid was just among a handful of kids who didn't have a phone

7th grade for both of mine.

Mine got one after 7th grade ended and he was 13 then. He was probably the last kid in his grade to get one. I asked his 7th grade homeroom teacher and she said my kid and one other didn't have phones. I thought my DS was bsing me. Apparently not. Didn't make much difference since he's just as addicted as every other kid.

8th grade for DC1
7th grade for DC2

Both received my cast-off iPhones that barely worked, so they haven't gotten addicted. They can call, and sometimes text. Except when for some reason it doesn't work. There are no software updates, so games are limited.

Age 13. Responsible kid. Started slow and easy. Lots of apps and websites not available, kept it to texting for a good while. And then added apps, etc from there.

Right as 8th grade finished. First phone or any kind.

It was good timing as it gave the summer to get used to having a phone and for us to get used to how to parent this. There was zero content issues or phone etiquette problems, but the time spent on phone was a lot and needed some limits put in place

7th, but only because covid hit before as we planned to for 6th/middle school. No regrets, some drama but been fine. Appreciate being able to communicate. We limit it.

At what age/grade did your DCs get their first iPhone or other smart phone?

Do you regret it or has it all been fine?