We got ours flip phones in 4th grade. We don't have a landline at home, so when we started leaving them home alone for longer stretches, or roam a bit farther from home on their bikes, we wanted them to have a way to reach us.

The older one upgraded to a smart phone when his flip phone died in 7th grade. He still pretty much uses it to call/text us or a couple of friends - no social media. Younger one is still using the flip phone.

Anonymous wrote:Wait until 8. We will have a home iphone/ooma to use at home instead of a landline.

8? As in 8 years old?? No. Way too young.

8th grade.

I think kids should get it when the parents decide it's needed. My oldest got one in 5th grade when he started walking after school. We live in DC and he had a 2-mile walk from his school to my husband's job. My younger kid got one in 7th grade when he started commuting by metro across the city for school.

Wait until 8. We will have a home iphone/ooma to use at home instead of a landline.

A phone or a pocket computer with access to the entire internet? A phone, as soon as they walk to school alone. A computer, 18.

Middle school/when your kids are more independent.

Junior high. NOT a smart phone. Not until they leave the house and buy their own.

For our family, it was middle school (age 11.) We don't have a home phone (landline) and middle school is about the point where they were home without an adult more frequently.

I got her a flip phone at the end of 4th grade, because that's when she started taking mass transit by herself to/from school. She could only call three people on it.

Mine got one at 13 IF their grades were up to par. All 3 met the criteria. It's a great incentive.

I regret getting my 6th grader a phone. "Wait til 8" - 8th grade

When they started walking to and from school on their own. 5th and 6th grades.

Our 6th grader didn't get one this year. With distance learning it was easier to hold off.

My 9 yo got a phone once I started letting him walk home from school. That said, it doesn’t have to be a smartphone (though his is a hand me down), just a way to contact you.

My kids are 10 and 12 and they both don’t have phones. They do have iPads where they can FaceTime and text their friends while playing games. I am considering getting a family phone to take to sports so they have a way to contact us.

At what age did you get or plan to get your child a phone?