13 year old dd just dropped her iPhone 6 (birthday present - 3 weeks old) because her brother threw a football at her causing her to drop it. Replace or not?

[hmc]

I hesitate because she didn't have a protective cover on it when she dropped it because apparently the case had broken at the side. She tells me this now when she knows it is important to always have a protective case. Why not tell me yesterday when we were in town and I would have purchased another case immediately. So I am thinking she has joint culpability and am tempted to replace with very basic iPhone.....

But, but, but - it was a birthday present, her brother threw a football at her and she is in floods of tears.....

Yes we have tried a hard reset

loads and loads of kids have smart phones these days

Wow. Leaving thread now, hoping against hope that my DD does not end up in a school where all her mates have an iPhone at age 7.

If there's no visible damage just take it to a Genius Bar and say it's not turning on and you don't know why. Sounds like it might have a slightly loose connection which has been knocked looser by the drop. Which shouldn't happen on such an expensive phone.

ggirl and alwaysabattle, I was a secondary school teacher up until very recently, and I am very well aware how many students have smart phones. That still doesn't mean it is something that I agree with.

Have you tried putting it in a bowl of rice?

I second going to the Genius Bar and telling them it won't turn on. I've dropped my iPhone -several- a few times and it's always worked afterwards.

Viva exactly. The fact that it was 'knocked' and now won't turn on is a bit crap, regardless of the fact that it was given to a 13 year old.
I was pretty shocked at just how easily my 5s screen smashed this week. I have dropped earlier models in worse ways iyswim and they didn't shatter.
Apple shouldn't have given you such a flimsy product imo.

Thanks for all the constructive advice (those of you who have advised) - helpful to talk it over. Got me past my initial rage reaction

It's the unlimited internet which I don't agree with. Most kids are savvy enough to getroundparental controls if any are set. Big if there though

Yep, what Viva said. Good idea!

Take it to an Apple Store. I smashed my iPhone 6 screen and they repaired it for about £80. Don't go anywhere non-Apple, even the phone shops, as they charge more.

If my dd becomes rude, insolent, disrespectful...bullies someone, gets into trouble at school or elsewhere...stops working hard academically, or similar I will worry and take action. But since she is a good natured, largely biddable, mostly sensible and very dilligent girl I am not going to 'worry' about the 'appropriateness' of her having a iPhone....That's all I'm saying on that matter. Not going to be drawn into a debate on that - it isn't worth my time

Anyone, a 13 year old could have unlimited internet access via a cheaper smartphone (samsung etc) or a computer in the bedroom parents didn't bother to check on. I think turning this thread into a debate on that (necessary though it may well be) is not helpful to the OP.

I do think the brother should be punished for what he did though. The recent thread on childhood injustices involved siblings/peers breaking special to the owner items, and then the owner being punished directly or indirectly. It simply isn't fair. Kicking a ball at her is really aggressive, esp if it wasn't accidental. 13 yo girls shouldn't have to put up with their space/property being intruded on aggressively by men, accidently or otherwise.

Ethelb - we are most definitely punishing him too. I agree. For what it's worth he is contrite.

I take it you don't have a 13 year old totallybewildered - many of them do

I have two teens and work with teens, while some do, most don't and those that do it is almost always second hand, and quite often damaged, prior to it being given to the 13 year old.

I'm wondering what the hell you're going to get her for her 18th birthday...

World has gone mad.

Probably a Ferrari, Blazing

Who says smartphones necessarily have unlimited internet?

The idea of someone having an opinion on my child's phone seems laughable to me.

hmc, if there is no visible external damage, or evidence that it's been dropped, just take it back to Apple, they should replace it under warranty. Just obviously don't tell them it was dropped, just that it's stopped working.
Ignore the professionally shocked about everything brigade.

I wouldn't be repairing it or replacing it. She'd be having to pay for that herself. All you're teaching her by doing that is it's ok not to look after expensive things (ie not putting the iPhone in a case) because her parents will dip their hands in their pockets and sort it out for her.

DS2(18) has recently broken his phone through being slightly careless and it could have been avoided. I'm not paying for it to be repaired and he won't because it will take his bank balance under £1000 and he doesn't want that to happen. He's hoping I'm going to back down but he will be having a long wait!

It's pearl clutching, not, as two people have said, pearl clenching.

Fairy bloody right anyone with over £1K in the bank can pay for their own phone repair!

My 13yr old who was obv 12 at the time has not damaged her iPhone in any way.
The tablet I broke wouldn't have made a difference if it had a case or screen protector because of how it was broken.
That's not to say I'd replace everything, or not give a lecture but this sounds like genuine accident to me.
Not everyone in my dd's school has the latest phone, it's certainly not a requirement but some do and I don't mind dd having one, so long as her last one is sold first.

He's saved for uni Tendon which is to be commended and had he have been being more careful I might have paid for his phone. But as he wasn't I'm not. He's managing really well without it, tbh, considering it was stuck to his hand 24/7 before!