Mobile Phone Tips

[foragogog]

My eldest is due to start secondary school in September so mobile phone etiquette is new to me. I have just got him one, bit earlier than expected as the opportunity came up.

My question is, how on earth does he use/carry it around without losing it? Do they keep them in their pockets or in their school bags? What about in the holidays? What do they do with them while in classes?

Any other tips for not losing them?

There might be a rule about them putting them in their lockers for the day. Or there might be a rule about them not being allowed in school at all. Check with the school.

If not, there is usually a zipped pocket on the inside of their blazers.

They must hand them in when they do PE. Some children will steal them and sell them on.

My DD's school have a rule that bthey have to lock them in their lockers the first thing in the morning and not even look at them until they finished school for the day. Perfect I think as I don't think hers would have lasted a week in a pocket! It sounds like most of the DD's class friends have their parents old phones, (I only know as several asked for iphone 4's covers for Secret Santa).

At my school, students are not allowed mobile phones at all, even sixth formers. I have been in schools where phones have to be in lockers, switched off.

I hate mobile phones being on in the classroom.

At primary school the kids with phones had to put them in the class box at the start of the day when they were then locked away until hometime. But at secondary school they are allowed to have them with them all the time, partly because a lot of info is shared via the school's computer webpage/info thingy! My kids keep them in their blazer pockets and because they are the most important thing to them they haven't lost them! They have to remember to turn them to silent when in class. It is useful if I need to get a message to them that I know I can just text them and vice versa.

I bought ds a 'school phone' - or, a £10 'brick' from Tesco that he can call and text on and which holds a charge for a full week.

No worries about losing it, no chance to go online, minimum distraction, maximum functionality.

Hmmm I feel you but I work in technology so he's got a pretty nice android phone which is a bit of a worry. Not an iPhone at least and its insured. My main concern is where he'll keep it as this is a kid who goes out in tracksuits bottoms and T shirt even at this time of year.

As others have said most schools have rules about phones and where they can be kept. So depending on where he goes he will know where to keep it (wont be wearing tracksuit trousers and t-shirt to school ) Plus (as with my sons secondary school ) you may have to get a "brick " option for school.
Outside of school if he has no suitable pockets most of the time and tends to play football etc. with friends I would also suggest a simple option for when he is out. Failing that he has a bag he puts it in but you accept an insurance claim may be needed !!

It depends on the school.

Daughter's school: phones must be switched off and kept in lockers all day.

Sons' school: phones mustn't be seen or heard during lessons.

Our home rule: phones must be switched off or charging with notifications silent and left outside bedrooms on the landing from 9pm to 7am.

We had to set up the last rule to protect their sleep. Their friends continue to send group messages until well after 11pm.

yep - all devices are left downstairs to charge on the way up to bed in our house. They would be on it until the early hours otherwise as you say and I know from my own bad habits in that area that it is really disruptive to sleep to have any kind of screen in the bedroom.