This old chestnut: mobile phone - how old?

[MrsJonesAndMe]

How old were your children when they got a phone?

Thanks

11 - the start of High School.
Someone told me that the incidents of children involved in road traffic accidents goes up dramatically between 10 year olds and 11 year olds, and it's because at 11 they've got phones for High School and are looking at them while crossing roads. So whether it's true or not I've successfully put the fear of God into my DCs re road crossing and phones - they're fed up of me carping on about it. I still keep carping on about it.

11 for us, reuse of an older handset, gmail familylink means customisable controls from my account. Sim with smarty to limit data use but still allow calls/texts. Normal home screentime rules apply ( not in bedrooms, not at dinner table, not after dinner and turn off when you're told). It feels like pandora's box but increasingly he travels to and from sports training without us or is away overnight so I will feel happier that we can stay in touch more easily. A smartphone means he can use the app to use our Sonos at home and will reduce arguments over the single family tablet. He gets it next week so fingers crossed it works out ok.

Thank you, that is very useful

9 for basic (walking to and from school alone,) smartphone as Christmas/birthday gift once the started secondary.