What age would you get your child a smart phone?

Later part of year 5, with an old and very locked down phone - very limited apps, no communication from anyone not on a white list, a need to request an approval for pretty much everything, time restrictions, etc.

Before getting hold of the phone, DD first had to read an age appropriate book about online safety and was then quizzed on it by me and DH. The phone was then initially only allowed at home, until the excitement wore off.

The phone is in preparation for being allowed to walk home alone from school. Assuming the phone is treated sensibly and carefully, then it'll be upgraded to something slightly better (but no-where near top of the range, and still tightly controlled) before high school.

You think you're doing her a favour but what you are doing is not healthy or good, it's extreme

Totally disagree. All of the science backs up the fact that smartphones can be extremely damaging for young minds. As a PP has said, there's a reason why the Silicon Valley tech bros won't let their kids have smartphones. Read the GenZ Reddit forums - it's really common for them to say they wish they hadn't been exposed to social media or porn etc at such a young age.

I also think most parents are extremely naive about what kids are seeing on their phones. It's fairly trivial to get around the various child lock settings, especially for a young person familiar with tech. My parents have no idea about some of the extremely disturbing (and outright dangerous) things I saw and did as a teenager online.

This falls into overbearing mother territory.

Mine were 10.

Not before 14 and possibly even longer. They have access to devices at home and their usage supported and mentored to be able to make safe choices.

They have dumb phones for the school bus.

That's awful, your poor daughter having to pretend and lie out of embarrassment. And then having a basic function phone in this day and age, leaving her out of social life that everyone else shares and probably a target for bullying.
You think you're doing her a favour but what you are doing is not healthy or good, it's extreme. You could have just made sure her use of phone was balanced via parental control, the occasional checks, no phone at bedtime etc.

Just because your friends kid has one doesn't mean you have to copy.

I have no intention of giving DS8 one for as long as is possible.

Mine had them at 11 for secondary school
as they were more likely to be walking rather than dropped off. They didn’t really need a phone before this

Personally I hope to wait till 13 or 14. Brick phone for early secondary. There is a growing movement that way in our area so I’m hoping she won’t be the only one.

But I know there are kids in our primary who got a smartphone at 8 with unrestricted access to TikTok. Which is awful parenting imo.

Definitely not a 'need' before that age....maybe a basic one that just does calls and messages for safety for some kids (eg: young carers) but not most.
And certainly not a smart phone.

Get them a dumb phone if absolutely necessary. Smartphone maybe at 13.

My DC are teens and they each got a basic smart phone in year 6

DS is 14 and has recently got Snapchat, other than that he uses no social media.
DD is 17 and uses Instagram, and tik tok and, to her disgust, fb because that was a way of connecting with others at her prospective uni!

End of summer between year 5 and 6 for eldest. It’s given him some freedom, helped him keep in touch with friends and football team mates. It’s allows him some more independence. Easy to put various limits on it and control usage.

DD1 was 11, a few months into her final Yr at Primary. She didnt go out by herself until then.

DD2 was 9, she played out with friends on the estate at this age and I wanted to be able to contact her.

My 9 year old does not have one and won't until secondary school. When she starts secondary school, she'll be taking the bus so she'll have one for maps and bus app. But we will ensure that there are parental controls on the browser so we can see what websites she's accessing. Definitely no social media.

@Letsgetouttahere2023 why do you believe that?

As late as possible.

Teenagers earliest.

Smartphone, = end of innocence, end of childhood

Also with our iPhones we have a family plan where we have to approve their requests for various apps and limit time on certain apps. Not sure if android do similar, probably they do.

Nobody has said they are/were in constant contact at all. It is about the possibility to make contact if needed in an emergency. There's a difference.

End of year 6, we wanted the novelty to wear off over the summer before starting upper school. We have parental controls and an agreement that I can check it any time I like (which I do now and then), but he mainly has it on DND because he doesn’t like notifications

I don't know. I'd rather not until 13-14 but equally wouldn't want them to be the only kid in the school without one. I think realistically I'll give in the summer before secondary school with strict rules and careful monitoring.

Year 6 because they will almost certainly be left out as the vast majority of children will have them by then.

It's not ideal but you can be sure to a greater extent who they are messaging and they will have known these children in some cases since they were little and you will know the parents.

WhatsApp is a pain in the beginning as they create huge group chats and constantly add and throw out each other. But it gets the silliness out of the way in time for secondary.

8 is too young IMO.

Why do you think parents are in constant contact just because a child has a phone?

I don't see how it's any different for a child than for an adult. Of course people, children and adults, can get by without a smart phone. But that doesn't mean it won't be more awkward, annoying or time consuming without one. And sometimes that difference will make a material difference to the quality of life families can lead and opportunities children can access. Especially now there are no longer public phone boxes scattered around the place.

Do we think our children are incapable?

I'm pretty sure that having a phone each when they're out makes both feel more reassured that they can easily be in contact if needed.

I don't think this is too hard to understand

I do think things are different now. When I was a kid we went out to play and there were phone boxes everywhere and if there was a problem we would reverse dial mum. I can't remember the last time I saw a phone box.