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Original poster

Get DD phone or Apple Watch??

36 replies

mattwhit · 27/09/2022 22:13

Dd is year 6, started waking to school alone, i feel an AirTag isn't enough and want to be able to contact her or vice versa.

We tried a spacetalk it was pants.

Should i just bite the bullet & get her a phone or should I go for an Apple Watch?

I want to be able to track her location and contact her.

Thanks

OP posts:
LordMooey · 27/09/2022 22:29

Following...

hennaoj · 27/09/2022 22:32

If you're just getting the watch you'll need the cellular version.

Original poster
mattwhit · 27/09/2022 22:50

hennaoj · 27/09/2022 22:32

If you're just getting the watch you'll need the cellular version.

Whats that? /why that version?

(Clueless)

OP posts:

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General education
Cynderella · 27/09/2022 22:54

I have an old watch - it only shows me what's on my phone.

Newer watches have the ability to operate independently of a phone.

I have a six year old granddaughter - I can't imagine her walking anywhere on her own. Certainly not where we (adults in her life) can't see her.

pastypirate · 27/09/2022 22:55

Cynderella · 27/09/2022 22:54

I have an old watch - it only shows me what's on my phone.

Newer watches have the ability to operate independently of a phone.

I have a six year old granddaughter - I can't imagine her walking anywhere on her own. Certainly not where we (adults in her life) can't see her.

Year 6. She's 10/11

Original poster
mattwhit · 27/09/2022 22:55

Cynderella · 27/09/2022 22:54

I have an old watch - it only shows me what's on my phone.

Newer watches have the ability to operate independently of a phone.

I have a six year old granddaughter - I can't imagine her walking anywhere on her own. Certainly not where we (adults in her life) can't see her.

Oh no she's year 6 so 10 nearly 11, haha don't worry I'm struggling with this age let alone a 6 year old going out alone!

OP posts:
FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 27/09/2022 23:02

If you go for an Apple Watch there are 2 versions

  • GPS and cellular.

GPS connects to a phone that has to be close by, you can take calls, send messages etc but you have to be within a few metres of the phone to do that.

Cellular has a SIM card and can operate as a phone without needing to be close to one. It lets you txt, call and email.

I think your better option would be to get her a phone BUT make sure you set parental controls so that websites are age restricted, purchases/app downloads require you to verify either with a passcode, password or biometric like thumbprint/face recognition, do not add your credit/debit cards to the phone wallet for wireless payments. Set screen time allowances so the phone stops working after a certain time. Also be very clear that you will be checking usage until you know you can trust her to use it appropriately, stay clear of social apps and have a downstairs overnight rule.

Fiddlersgreen · 27/09/2022 23:04

I’d get her a phone, it won’t be long before ALL her friends are getting them and then you’ll want to get one then anyway.

As a pp said though, lots of parental controls, spending limit, screen time limits and phone downstairs at night is a must

Fiddlersgreen · 27/09/2022 23:05

Also, wearing an Apple Watch will make her a target for thieves/muggers. At least with a phone it can be put away in her pocket

cherrypiepie · 27/09/2022 23:09

I'd get her a phone as you will probably want to get one for secondary anyway it with a huge caveat that it can only be used between 8am and 7pm, left on side for meals and so on, daily screening etc. and what every rules you choose.

And, As you instilled these routines in one so young, you can keep going until she is 18 Grin

Cynderella · 27/09/2022 23:27

pastypirate · 27/09/2022 22:55

Year 6. She's 10/11

Show quote history

Sorry - that makes more sense! 🤐

As others have said - a phone. Not because I thin Year 6 or Year 7 children should have them, but if she is walking on her own, I would feel better being able to contact. Smart watches are a real issue in secondary schools now so many kids have them, so I would avoid.

pastypirate · 28/09/2022 00:39

I got dd1 a phone start of year 6. She was quite happy with my old iPhone. We use life 360 and by the time she got the bus in year 7 I could trust her to keep in touch with me. Using a tracking app is belt and braces it's working well for us.

lailamaria · 28/09/2022 05:36

she'll be in year 7 soon then she'll need a phone so just get her one now and save time

Dontsparethehorses · 28/09/2022 05:41

Many primary schools would not allow an Apple Watch in classroom- it would have to be handed in like a phone/ turned off in bag just incase that impacts your decision. I would definitely go for an older model phone for first phone to teach her how to use responsibly

Paigeycakey · 28/09/2022 06:03

I've never had an Apple watch but dark nights are looming phone though no question.

If your DD is in am emergency she needs to be able to dial quickly

Pickle1512 · 28/09/2022 06:15

-Old model smartphone - get a iPhone 7 or something for about £120 secondhand
sim with unlimited calls but not much data.
-life360 tracker app
-parental controls - set up as a child account linked to your phone. you can lock everything down so she can’t download apps etc without your consent.

LittleBearPad · 28/09/2022 06:24

Why not simply get her a nokia type old school phone. Less of a mugging target and less access to the internet and all the shit that brings. There’s a story in the Times today about teenagers and social media. It’s horrifying.

OperaStation · 28/09/2022 06:27

I would have thought an apple phone will look enormous on the wrist of a 10 year old.

I would get her a cheap, second hand phone.

My concern OP, is that you seem a bit clueless about technology. When you give a kid a phone for the first time you really need to know what you’re doing. You need to set up really good parental controls and lock down what she can do with the phone and what she can access. I would suggest doing a lot of reading.

SweetLittlePixie · 28/09/2022 06:33

Paigeycakey · 28/09/2022 06:03

I've never had an Apple watch but dark nights are looming phone though no question.

If your DD is in am emergency she needs to be able to dial quickly

With a watch its probably faster in an emergency. My kids have watches (kid ones, not apple). They are 8 and 6 and walk to school themselves (Normal where we live), but because of their age i didnt want a phone yet.
the watch has an emergency button and if they press and hold it automatically calls me (their emergence contact) and a kinda siren goes off on their watch and my phone.

Apple watches have similar too i think. Not the siren, but quick call.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/09/2022 06:34

I have a nearly 11 year old dd and a 14 year old ds.

They both got an old iPhone when they moved to middle school at Y6 and had to walk there themselves (uk, middle schools still exist in places). They have a bit of mobile data and lots of parent controls (the 14 year old now less so).

An old phone is not much of a theft risk. A flashy new Apple Watch is.

Once your dd goes to secondary school, it is likely she'll need it for bus ticket, homework apps etc anyway.

TeenDivided · 28/09/2022 06:36

An inexpensive second hand phone.
Will she have to hand it in at the school office? That's what y6s had to do way back when DDs were in primary.
She can get used to it for a year before secondary.
Start with lots of rules / written agreement. Easier to relax rules over time than introduce them later.

  • not in bedroom overnight
  • not at meals or any other designated family time
  • no adding people she doesn't know in person in real life
  • never text anything about anyone she wouldn't say to their face
  • you know the password and you will do regular checks
  • 'playing' on it comes out of any screen time rules you have
  • parental controls
focuspocus · 28/09/2022 06:37

It would be good to check the schools policy on both smartphones and smartwatches. Some schools don't allow one or both at all. Our school did not allow smartwatches like Apple Watches at all. I don't know what their policy was regarding phones. A friends school allows them in year 6 because of getting to school alone but they are handed in once at school and returned at end of day. It can also be an issue at secondary. My DD is allowed to have her phone in secondary but it is not to be seen during the day including break.

MrsSwnllyd · 28/09/2022 06:41

I'd keep the air tag and get a dumb phone for contact.

focuspocus · 28/09/2022 06:47

Forgot to say that the new year 7 in DD's school were not allowed smartphones and have to have dumb phones. Don't know if any come with trackable tech.

MrsMontyD · 28/09/2022 06:48

A smart phone makes more sense, she's unlikely to be able to wear a smart watch in school, definitely not at secondary, so it will be in her bag during the school day anyway. You can always get her a basic smart watch to pair with the phone later.

My very tech savvy teenager has never wanted a smart watch, they aren't very fashionable where we live, more for adults who are into fitness.