Anonymous wrote:

I get the apple to apple situation but it is insane and I just can't participate in this generation of sixth graders getting iphones.

What bothers you about it? My son has my old iphone. I have blocked most apps and limit youtube etc. to 15 minutes per day. He uses it to text friends, and to call me if he needs something. It comes in useful at times - recently, he was supposed to drop books in the library drop slot, and tripped and opened a wound on his knee. It was nice that he could call me to come get him. Sure, he could have made it home with his knee bleeding, but I would rather he call me for help.

Exactly. 12yo twins and they’ve had old iPhones for a year now. Most apps are blocked, and others are time limited via parental controls. They mostly use the phones to text/FaceTime friends, play games (that I have approved and are time limited) and for photo:video. They will earn more privileges as they get older.

I got them phones partially for my own convenience, as activities etc became more “drop and go”. They can text me if practice gets called early due to rain etc, or that type of thing. We had a situation where a practice was called, kid didn’t have a phone yet, and coach texted husband and not me (husband didn’t see it) so ended up inconveniencing the coaches because I was so late by the time I was notified. Obviously not a common situation but if kid could’ve called me right away I’d have been there in 10min! I like them having phones.

Anonymous wrote:This may be a stupid question ( not OP) my 8yo has my old android phone but there is no data plan. She uses WiFi and chats to friends thru messenger kids. If there is no data plan that means the phone doesn’t have a number right? So how would you text someone? Or are they using something like messenger or whatsapp?

My 10yo has an iPad and uses his Apple ID to text and FaceTime friends. Not sure how it works with Android devices. He will get a phone for his 12th birthday, as his older is siblings did, but can text friends for now (only from home or if a place has wifi he can connect to). We have a cheap prepaid flip phone I can send with him if any situations arise where I’d want him to have one (same as I did with the older 2).

I get the apple to apple situation but it is insane and I just can't participate in this generation of sixth graders getting iphones.

What bothers you about it? My son has my old iphone. I have blocked most apps and limit youtube etc. to 15 minutes per day. He uses it to text friends, and to call me if he needs something. It comes in useful at times - recently, he was supposed to drop books in the library drop slot, and tripped and opened a wound on his knee. It was nice that he could call me to come get him. Sure, he could have made it home with his knee bleeding, but I would rather he call me for help.

Anonymous wrote:I would get an iPad if you don't want them to have a phone. You can text/chat on one via wifi. Or, if you have an old phone, give them that one and set up an app with a phone number via wifi.

My 12 yo uses his iPad to text friends. They also do FaceTime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get the apple to apple situation but it is insane and I just can't participate in this generation of sixth graders getting iphones. We did ipod or family ipads so that kids can get all the apple stuff. In ninth, our kids received an equally nice but much cheaper android phone.

Yes to all of this. My 7th grader has an iPod that serves her fine. I’m sure she’s love to have an iPhone like many others, but oh well.

I know I can google, but what is an iPod? How is it different than an iPad? The iPod I recall is a music player.

Anonymous wrote:I get the apple to apple situation but it is insane and I just can't participate in this generation of sixth graders getting iphones. We did ipod or family ipads so that kids can get all the apple stuff. In ninth, our kids received an equally nice but much cheaper android phone.

DS’s first phone was my reactivated iPhone so didn’t cost anything. Same for most friends. When we bought him his first new one it was the XR. This was less than most cell phones, including androids.

Anonymous wrote:I get the apple to apple situation but it is insane and I just can't participate in this generation of sixth graders getting iphones. We did ipod or family ipads so that kids can get all the apple stuff. In ninth, our kids received an equally nice but much cheaper android phone.

Yes to all of this. My 7th grader has an iPod that serves her fine. I’m sure she’s love to have an iPhone like many others, but oh well.

I get the apple to apple situation but it is insane and I just can't participate in this generation of sixth graders getting iphones. We did ipod or family ipads so that kids can get all the apple stuff. In ninth, our kids received an equally nice but much cheaper android phone.

This may be a stupid question ( not OP) my 8yo has my old android phone but there is no data plan. She uses WiFi and chats to friends thru messenger kids. If there is no data plan that means the phone doesn’t have a number right? So how would you text someone? Or are they using something like messenger or whatsapp?

Gabb phone

Our 11yo 6th grader has an iPhone without a sim, and she will likely get a sim for her 12th bday at the beginning of 7th grade. It works well for her to connect with her friends, most of them have iPhones/iPads/iPods.

Get an older iPhone, an X or Xr would be ideal. You don’t need to put on your cell plan, he can use WiFi.

You won't need to if he is not going anyplace right now, but I really like my son to be able to call me. He goes biking and jogging in his own, and it gives me peace of mind that, if something unexpected came up, he has a way to reach me.

Get an older iPhone, an X or Xr would be ideal. You don’t need to put on your cell plan, he can use WiFi.

Get him an iPhone unless you have another need for an iPad. They are mostly communicating with iMessage, what’s app and soon will be on snap chat, various gaming sites and more ways than I can keep up with. All of DS’s friends had phones by 6th grade. You don’t have to do what every other parent does but it will save you money if you buy one of the less expensive iPhones now. You will be in a year or so anyway. iPhones have the best built in parental controls.

I’d just get him an iPhone.

You can remove access to the internet/web browsing with a tap of your thumb if that is your concern. Same with downloading apps etc...can remove that capability or require you to approve the download from your own phone. The parental controls are pretty good. You can make an iPhone be pretty much whatever you want it to be, and then add privileges (if you choose to) as he matures.

Any other option is kind of a waste IMHO.