For those with older kids, when/how did you give your child(ren) their first cell phone?

My step-son (I’ll call him Jack) just turned 11, and will be starting middle school in the fall. His father and I are discussing when/how to introduce him to a cell phone.

For reference; my fiancé has majority custody and Jack doesn’t see his biological mother very often. She’s married to an abusive man and has a history of drug use.

When Jack was 8 years old, his mother bought him a cell phone. My fiancé was very much against it, but let him have it for the time being. Jack lost the phone within a single weekend of having it. We still believe that he would very easily lose a phone if he got one now. He misplaces things often.

This is what we’re currently thinking about doing- he has a tablet that he keeps here at home. Currently it’s only used for games and an alarm clock. We were thinking about setting him up with a kids Facebook messenger account (or maybe some other kids communication app) so that he is able to communicate with friends and family, then allowing him to carry it with him when he goes places. It wouldn’t go to school at all though. Then if he does well with it (aka doesn’t lose it), we plan to get him a cheaper cell phone for his 12th birthday (1yr from now). We will then most likely allow him to take it to school. We want to start with the tablet because it’s pretty old, so it’s not a big deal if he loses it. Also it’s much larger than a phone so it would be harder to lose.

Do you think this is a good idea? Or do you have any other ideas/advice?