Through parents mainly.
My kid has a phone and doesn’t arrange her own plans yet.
She literally just got invited to a baseball game. The mom texted me, I’m at work. I called my spouse, spouse asked my kid, my kid said yes. Friend said great she would pick up my kid at noon and have her home around 5.
My kid had no part of the planning.
Even if she had a friend over after school she asks me, I ask the parent, parent and I arrange logistics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Don’t parents coordinate anyway, regardless of if the kids have phones? I’m not dropping my kid off at someone’s house if I haven’t heard from their parent to confirm

.

No, my 11 year old tells me where they are going and when they will be home and I don't feel the need to call parents or otherwise involve myself

lol right?? What do you expect from a parent who hands her 11 year old and iPhone and says good luck!

Okay, team helicopter. If the idea that an 11 year old should not be trusted to manage such a basic social interaction as making afternoon plans isn't a recipe for anxious and incapable kids then I don't know what is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Don’t parents coordinate anyway, regardless of if the kids have phones? I’m not dropping my kid off at someone’s house if I haven’t heard from their parent to confirm

My middle schooler is usually meeting up with friends at the town center, going to the movies, grabbing ice cream, biking. I rarely involve myself with other parents, but I do track his route to me sure he is generally where he has said he will be etc. Huge difference between an 11 year old middle schooler and a 14 year old one, as well.

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

No kids use email these days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Don’t parents coordinate anyway, regardless of if the kids have phones? I’m not dropping my kid off at someone’s house if I haven’t heard from their parent to confirm

.

No, my 11 year old tells me where they are going and when they will be home and I don't feel the need to call parents or otherwise involve myself

lol right?? What do you expect from a parent who hands her 11 year old and iPhone and says good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Don’t parents coordinate anyway, regardless of if the kids have phones? I’m not dropping my kid off at someone’s house if I haven’t heard from their parent to confirm

.

No, my 11 year old tells me where they are going and when they will be home and I don't feel the need to call parents or otherwise involve myself

My kid and his friends have non-smart phones so they text on that. But unless the plan is “X is coming over later, ok?” he probably needs my help to execute it so often there is also texting between the parents to make sure. I’m OK with this. But seems some parents like the one earlier in the thread aren’t. Oh well! I don’t think my 13 yo is friends with yours because very few of his friends have smart phones, but I’m sorry if he is and we have annoyed you by involving you in any arrangements

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Don’t parents coordinate anyway, regardless of if the kids have phones? I’m not dropping my kid off at someone’s house if I haven’t heard from their parent to confirm

.

No, my 11 year old tells me where they are going and when they will be home and I don't feel the need to call parents or otherwise involve myself

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Don’t parents coordinate anyway, regardless of if the kids have phones? I’m not dropping my kid off at someone’s house if I haven’t heard from their parent to confirm

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

They may as well make plans via telegram. They do not check email frequently enough to make spontaneous plans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I tried to avoid getting my kid a phone but once the kids turned 12 I noticed they make their own plans. One kid usually arranges a ride or I give my kid a ride. I had tongive in.

Kids shouldn't text with adults that arent family members. It puts everyone in an awkward situation.

Why would a text be awkward? Weird. Just communicate with people it’s not some kind of problem.

NP here and no - I do not want my child texting an adult outside of an emergency. Nor do I want to have regular text chains with my kids’ friends.

Mi middle schoolers don’t have phones. They email friends to initiate making plans. Parents will text to coordinate transportation and firm times

Why can’t a kid without a phone just use email? Why does everything have to be texted?

Anonymous wrote:I tried to avoid getting my kid a phone but once the kids turned 12 I noticed they make their own plans. One kid usually arranges a ride or I give my kid a ride. I had tongive in.

Kids shouldn't text with adults that arent family members. It puts everyone in an awkward situation.

Why would a text be awkward? Weird. Just communicate with people it’s not some kind of problem.

I 100% get why you want to wait for a smart phone but what's the issue with a basic cell phone like a light phone or flip phone? Then they can arrange their own plans but still not have access to social media/more addictive elements.