First phones for children, what do I need to know.

[Howcanwehelp]

My twin boys are turning 11 and as it normal in this neck of the woods they will get smart phones. I was thinking of older style android phones as dh and I both have androids. I will get a cheap contract linked to mine so I can share data with them as I have 60gb and use 2 a month!
They want WhatsApp which we will monitor and we've been teaching them phone ettiquite etc.
What do I need to know?
What android app is good for tracking them so I know they're at school, where they should be?
It's a big trust exercise, we've said no phones in bedrooms, only communal areas and we can check them at any time.

the blackview smartphone (link included) is a good starter phone, because it is robust and a good price. It runs on android, and you can read reviews of it here. FamiSafe GPS Tracker App is meant to be good for tracking location, although I haven't used it myself. You can also use it to block specific websites that you don't want them to have access to.

All the best

My DC started off with Motos which are good for their price. I use Life360 on my DS’s phone to help with rendezvous (he can see me as well as me seeing him) and I’ve found it pretty reliable.

I would really strongly advise against it. I know it’s normal and there’s a lot of social pressure to get them but their peers parents have no idea what they’re doing. I grew up in the age of the iPhone and ime they are really really not suitable for younger teens. We got up to no end of mischief, some truly terrible things as well. It’s really not worth it.