Primary Aged Kids and Mobile phones

[Whatistheanswer2023]

Some children need phones as they start walking home. The question seems to be regarding unfettered access to the internet. How do you ‘control’ your Primary Aged Child’s phone access? What age did your kids get a phone?

I have a DD approaching secondary school if I don’t give her one she’ll be the only child who doesn’t have one!

BBC Ofsted - Phone article

Brick phone and / or parental controls. Check the phone every night.

But kids learn to hide stuff right?

Ds had one aged 9 but really just to communicate with his dad or I when he was at either house. Now year 6, uses it a bit more. Checked often, parental controls and I also have an app he uses on my phone so can see what he’s doing/messaging anytime in real time. He doesn’t have the inclination to hide stuff and we talk about everything (aware that may change!). I think you have to do what you think is right for your own child and relationship with them while being very aware of the issues/dangers. Im
pleased ds has been able to learn a bit about how to use it/cope/deal with it while he’s young enough to come to me, talk things through and listen to my advice and I’m hoping sone of this experience will be carried through to teen years. I totally recognise that how we’ve gone about it is partly due to circumstance and isn’t right for all parents/children though.

You either don't give them a smart phone (so a basic Nokia style one) or you set the settings so they can't access certain stuff and monitor regularly.