OP, no way. I have a rising 7th grader, too. She has no phone. The majority of her 6th grade class had no phone, either according to a survey done by the counselors. The middle school teachers told us specifically at a parents' meeting for rising 7th graders in the spring that middle schoolers do not need phones and discouraged us from buying them because they caused many, many problems for the kids.

And, many kids have their parents' old ones. I converted an old iphone to a pay as you go phone. It's the one I take to the beach. No tears cried if it's lost or damaged. And I give it to overseas family members when they stay with us. When it's not being used, it costs zero. Many kids might have this type of iphone set up that let's them text or call when needed, and let's them surf for free if near a wifi connection.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of teens have smart phones.

http://www.cnet.com/news/smartphones-commandeer-70-percent-of-teen-market/

Teens are not fifth graders

Teens are not second graders.

OP's kid is about to turn 13.

Yes, that is obvious.

But there are several other posters who are saying they got an iphone for their second graders or fifth graders. Those are the parents who are irresponsible and overindulgent.

I dot think anyone here is advocating for an elementary school kid to get one. But most middle school kids have a phone. If you are going to purchase one you hope will be used for years, a smart phone is worth considering.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of teens have smart phones.

http://www.cnet.com/news/smartphones-commandeer-70-percent-of-teen-market/

Teens are not fifth graders

Teens are not second graders.

OP's kid is about to turn 13.

Yes, that is obvious.

But there are several other posters who are saying they got an iphone for their second graders or fifth graders. Those are the parents who are irresponsible and overindulgent.

Sadly, the "poorer" kids do have nice phones where I teach. I teach at a Title One school but I teach in the primary grades. I'm asked to administer the MSA to older students every year. This past year, I had a group of around 13-15 4th graders. I asked if anyone had a phone with them (the rule is that they leave it in their locker but it isn't enforced). 8 of the 14 kids raised their hands. I was shocked! These are kids who qualify for free lunches at school so their HHI is super low. Most of the phones were nice ones too! I collected them and thought about my son who is a year older who won't have a phone this nice until he can pay for it! When he gets to middle school, I might get him a cheap flip or slide phone but certainly not a nice one. I work hard to afford my iphone so there is no way I will just give this to him. He uses my old ipod and half of the time, he isn't sure where it is! So there is no way I will buy and pay for an expensive phone every month.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone in my DD circle has an iphone - she's a rising 6th grader.

My DD is also a rising sixth grader, and I think that the household incomes in your DD's circle are considerably higher than the household incomes in my DD's circle.

Maybe not. IN my child's 50% FARMs rate school, the kids in 3rd/4th/5th who bring smartphones to school are the FARMS kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone in my DD circle has an iphone - she's a rising 6th grader.

My DD is also a rising sixth grader, and I think that the household incomes in your DD's circle are considerably higher than the household incomes in my DD's circle.

It's quite likely you are correct.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone in my DD circle has an iphone - she's a rising 6th grader.

My DD is also a rising sixth grader, and I think that the household incomes in your DD's circle are considerably higher than the household incomes in my DD's circle.

It's quite likely you are correct.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone in my DD circle has an iphone - she's a rising 6th grader.

My DD is also a rising sixth grader, and I think that the household incomes in your DD's circle are considerably higher than the household incomes in my DD's circle.

It's quite likely you are correct.

Anonymous wrote:Everyone in my DD circle has an iphone - she's a rising 6th grader.

My DD is also a rising sixth grader, and I think that the household incomes in your DD's circle are considerably higher than the household incomes in my DD's circle.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:70% of teens have smart phones.

http://www.cnet.com/news/smartphones-commandeer-70-percent-of-teen-market/

Teens are not fifth graders

Teens are not second graders.

The OP's daughter is not a fifth grader.

The OP's daughter is not a second grader.

My rising 7th grader has an iPhone. 75% of the kids have phones, maybe half of those have iPhones.

Everyone in my DD circle has an iphone - she's a rising 6th grader.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for those who live in areas where most kids have iphones or smart phones by the 5th grade, if your kids don't have one or a basic phone by that age, does that establish where they are on the social hierarchy?

absolutely but not cause and effect, more like effect. Moms that want their daughters to be cool buy the cool phones for their daughters. It works for at least 5th grade and middle school. Take a hard look at the moms of the girls in elementary schools that have those iphones and report back.

Boys, too.

This is sad. So if you are popular and your family can't afford a phone or doesn't get you one, you lose your social standing?

In my experience, it's the parents who want their kids to be popular who are more likely to give them phones early. And it's only part of a much larger picture of parents' grooming their kids to be popular. So it's not just about the phones, IMO.

And honestly does it matter where your kid is in "social standing?" I've always been told that as long as your child has one or two decent friends, you shouldn't worry about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So for those who live in areas where most kids have iphones or smart phones by the 5th grade, if your kids don't have one or a basic phone by that age, does that establish where they are on the social hierarchy?

absolutely but not cause and effect, more like effect. Moms that want their daughters to be cool buy the cool phones for their daughters. It works for at least 5th grade and middle school. Take a hard look at the moms of the girls in elementary schools that have those iphones and report back.

Boys, too.

This is sad. So if you are popular and your family can't afford a phone or doesn't get you one, you lose your social standing?

Any family can afford a phone for their kid if they cut out more frivolous spending, like cable TV.