I am ready to jump in and get an iPhone for my 13 y.o. 7th grader who bagged for it all way long. I read carefully all the responses here to educate myself. My older got a smart phone in 9th grade but she always were more mature and more responsible than most of the teens, so we never ever checked it or controlled it. With 13 y.o., she agreed it will be no internet service (but she still can use it in wi-fi area), we have a password; time limits and rules were discussed. Anything else I should implement before I handle it to her? I would wait longer, but we just moved to a new area, and it is important for her to have one. Will be appreciated for any advises (I am not a tech savvy mom)

7th and 5th grades and absolutely not. I actually don't think they'd misuse it right now, but as they get further into adolescence, they don't need the internet in their pockets. We will do flip phones in high school.

We got our son (12) a flip phone when he started 6th grade. He’s also one of the only kids without a smart phone but he’s already addicted enough to his iPad. Not willing to add a smart phone to the mix yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. He has one and I don't feel the need to justify or explain my reasons.

It wouldn't take long to explain, particularly if your reasons are flimsy ones.

Now admitting you don't have a backbone might require some honesty that is lacking.

Why do you think you're entitled to any answer? And just b/c they are "flimsy" to you doesn't mean other people will agree with your smug judgmental opinions.

I'm a NP, btw. I gave my child a phone in 5th grade. And it hasn't been a problem with how she uses it. She gets strict oversight and limits on it. And, I quite frankly could not care less if you think that is good, bad, or anything else.

Love you keyboard morality police. You wouldn't have 1/100th the backbone to say what you said in your post to anyone's face. And yet you sit in judgment. You should work on yourself a bit more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. He has one and I don't feel the need to justify or explain my reasons.

It wouldn't take long to explain, particularly if your reasons are flimsy ones.

Now admitting you don't have a backbone might require some honesty that is lacking.

Why does one need a reason? My son wanted a phone, I don't think phones are the root of all evil. My biggest concern was him losing it, but that hasn't happened in the 2 years he's had it.

My son had a smart phone since 5th grade and will be getting the new Samsung s10+ for his 13th birthday next month. He also has his own iPad and a tower gaming computer.

Anonymous wrote:Just curious if most Middle Schoolers have cell phones. Our daughter will be starting 6th grade in the Fall and we would like to put off getting her a cell phone as long as possible, but don't want her to stick out by not having one. Is it a rite of passage once they graduate from elementary school?

yep.

Anonymous wrote:Yep. He has one and I don't feel the need to justify or explain my reasons.

It wouldn't take long to explain, particularly if your reasons are flimsy ones.

Now admitting you don't have a backbone might require some honesty that is lacking.

Anonymous wrote:My 6th grader has an inexpensive Samsung Galaxy (forget what model). She walks home from school (could bus but prefers to walk) and I like her being able to call in case of an emergency since it is about 2 miles. She is pretty self-regulating with use, I think because we model that at home. She has been known to watch Parks and Rec on her phone after HW is done before swim practice. The horror.

It's pretty apparent the latest indignant parent war is to brag about your kid either not having a phone or gasp! only a flip phone as if the phone itself was the problem.

What is this emergency while walking that everyone is so concerned about? That your child might get cold? Or step in a puddle?

Or do you have a child that doesn't know the way home? In that case you need a lot more than a cell phone.

Yep. He has one and I don't feel the need to justify or explain my reasons.

My 6th grader has an inexpensive Samsung Galaxy (forget what model). She walks home from school (could bus but prefers to walk) and I like her being able to call in case of an emergency since it is about 2 miles. She is pretty self-regulating with use, I think because we model that at home. She has been known to watch Parks and Rec on her phone after HW is done before swim practice. The horror.

It's pretty apparent the latest indignant parent war is to brag about your kid either not having a phone or gasp! only a flip phone as if the phone itself was the problem.

Before 6th grade I had a flip phone I would give my daughter on day's she would take the bus home with a friend, or when she would sleep over a friend's house so she could call or text me at any time. Beginning 6th grade which is middle school where I'm at, I got her a phone. We don't have a house phone and she is home alone after school for a couple of hours. Also - she is the only one at her bus stop in the morning and afternoon - I felt better her having a phone to call me in case anything weird happens while shes standing there alone. She is now in 8th grade and still has the same phone and in good condition.

She doesn't have the latest phone but it still works well.
With her phone I've limited her at times her usage like taking away all apps/internet and not giving her the option to download any when she is grounded. I've blocked her from texting or calling anyone other than her parents. I've also set the screen time to go off from 9pm to 6am.