What age do think it's ok for a child to have a phone?

Question

Please comment what age you would get your kid a phone. I personally wouldn't give my kid a phone until at least 16 probably older.

Answer

I think it is perfectly acceptable to give an 11 year old a basic flip phone. When I was that age, I was walking home from school, and for safety, it is important. It gives me a chance to see as well how they respond to it and if they are responsible by keeping it safe, only using it to contact approved friends occasionally, etc. Smartphones are tricky. I think 15 is a good age to introduce that.

Answer

When they have a job and can pay for it themselves, and understand the dangers of the internet/ social media.

Answer

As soon as they start going out on their own. For me it was when I went to secondary school at 11 years old.

Answer

Honestly, I’m kinda paranoid so I’ll probably give my daughter a basic flip phone when she is in elementary school. I would feel more comfortable if she could contact me if need be. A smart phone, not until much later.

Answer

A basic phone when they start taking themselves to school or start going out with friends. A smart phone - probably not until 16.

Answer

We plan to get a flip phone or whatever will be the equivalent for safety reasons in elementary school. To stay in my child’s book bag - one of those pre paid phones from Walmart kinda deals. Then get a smart phone in middle school... but with some serious tracking. I’ve worked with kids for years and the amount of mischief they get into having complete access to the internet is hella scary!! Most teens will even agree that young kids have no business on smart phones and other tech. Too damn scary out there.

Answer

These days I personally believe kids NEED a phone at a certain point. If both parents work and they are walking home from the bus stop, being alone at the house, etc. We gave my step kids very basic phones at age 10 to communicate with us. Before that they had tablets with a texting app around age 9. This was when they lived at their moms so they could talk to us because she always left them alone. When they were 11 and 12 I got them iPhones which I always get judgement for. Apple is AMAZING because I can customize their entire settings to only download certain apps, not delete things, listen to non explicit music, track them, read their messages, control data usage, etc. We’ve had no issues. They don’t take their phones to school. They turn in their phones nightly before bed at 9pm and I go through their apps and messages. When they’re at their moms or a friends I can track their location which gives me peace of mind. They’re very mature and respectful with their phones!

Answer

I don’t think this is a black and white or age specific topic. Each scenario is specific to that child/family dynamic. 
For instance, when my oldest was in 2nd grade I gave him a phone. Factors-at the time, the line was mid contract (cost $$ to cancel) when my associate gave it up, I had a paid for phone to use with it and we had a high schooler that was picking him up from private school 3-5 days a week to be dropped off at the sitter. It was useful for me to be able to track his location, get notified when he arrived (or left) at the sitter and I could freely contact him as needed. He spends a lot of shared time at his dads and it was handy to be able to have 2 phones to get a hold of them. 
Now, he only had it for about a year. I then stayed home because my husband has a great job and I was having a 3rd baby. There was no need for the phone because he was always with one of us and not going to the sitter either. We decided to turn off service (our of contract by then). The phone still works with WiFi. He is now in 5th grade and it would be super handy for him to have his phone working AT TIMES. After school, ball practice- those types of things. He doesn’t need it allll the time. He already carries it on him since he can use it on WiFi. 
His dad has told him that he can have one in 6th grade. This is still the same iPhone. It’s paid off. When he needs a different one, he can have one of our old ones. He doesn’t “need” a brand new one. He’s cool with that anyway. Yes, we monitor what he’s doing on it. Yes, it gives him access that’s scary-we are a moderately conservative set of families so we are very mindful of this stuff. He has limits, restrictions, privacy, passcodes that parents have access to (some that he doesn’t) and that’s part of the deal-we have to have 100% access to his device for safety reason. He may not fully understand that, but he’s compliant without regard. 
Phones aren’t right for all kids. He will start paying for it when he’s old enough to have a job. We don’t have to give him a phone- we want him to have a phone. There’s a difference in that.

Answer

I didn’t get my first phone until I was 15

Answer

It depends. If they have clubs or something where they may need to stay at school late or be away, then I feel it would be good to have a phone. I gave my daughter a tablet so we could communicate while she was staying with her grandparents, but they have guaranteed wifi there so a tablet is enough for now (she's 10)

What age do think it's ok for a child to have a phone?

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