What age did your DC get a phone?

[tryingnottopanicrightnow]

DC's friend seems to have given her one for her birthday. I'm not keen, DH thinks she's at an age where, if we monitor it, it should be OK. I'm probably a bit of a fuddy duddy though.

We have just got some for our DC they are 11 and moving up to secondary school next term. They wanted phones before they said goodbye to some of their primary school friends.

11 in preparation for moving up to secondary school and needing to travel alone on public transport to get there.

Ist dd on entering High School age14/15
2nd dd 13/14
Son age 12.

We were living in Germany for 6 years and eldest dd only had a phone once we moved back to the states. Got progressively younger with each kid.

DD is 10

My son had one at 10. Only as he wanted to go out with mates down the park/if i left him at home i can contact him. Hes used it well up to now. I monitor his apps/texts/internet as his phone is linked to mine so he cant download anything without my permission. I can also track where he is with the location, which puts my mind at ease.

Ds was 10 1/2 when he had access to a phone but no contact with anyone on it. He was 11 when he was allowed to start using WhatsApp with his friends. I monitor everything, he knows I read his messages, and we have an agreement that if anyone says anything he doesn't like in messaging, to him or someone else, he must tell me immediately. I don't invade his privacy, but I do know what he's up to. I like Google Family Link for having more control over the device.
He is getting his own phone very soon ready for secondary in September.

11, in time for secondary school.

At 10... probably a year or so before I wanted him to have one but all his friends did and he'd have been quite out of the loop in terms of friendships without it. I check it every night when he's in bed.

11

DS got his at 11. DD (8) is absurdly jealous but we’re sticking to 11 for her too.

Both of mine in the summer holidays before starting secondary school.

ds will get one when he's starting senior school so he can contact us if the journey goes wrong for any reason.

11, when she started walking to/from school herself. I asked on the class WhatsApp in September, 3 of the children had phones at that point, 2 because parents had split so it was keeping in touch. Since Easter, more and more have got phones ready for secondary.

We use Google Family Link here too, phone goes off at 9:30, and i check hangouts and whatsapp which she knows i will do each day.