Basic phone for 9yr old

[Weal]

My 9 yr old has just started spending time outside alone (going to local park and to the very local shop). I am happy for him to do this as he is a very sensible
lad and am trying to take small steps towards him having more responsibility and independence.

I was not planning on allowing him to have a phone until he was year 6….in preparation for being able to reliably use one in year 7. However I’m wondering about getting one now so he can contact us if anything happens whilst he is out. We live in a fairly safe small town so nothing should happen, but he’s such a timid lad I’d hate the thought of him
not being able to contact someone for help if anything did happen.

Has anyone used a very basic phone or alternative method of communicating for a child this sort of age? I don’t want ability to use internet or other apps, just ability to call us and maybe text a small number of people.

any experience in managing keeping in touch with kids this age while they are out. Or do people just old school it and give them a home time?

I got a dumb phone for my son for his first phone. I wanted him to learn how to look after a phone and understand who to give his number to and who not to before we had to worry about the whole access to the internet/social media side of things.

Had to try 3 shops before I found one that sold them, but got one from O2. Only cost about £10 and it's a cheap contract, only about £10 per month for unlimited calls and texts.

This was over a year ago though, not sure if they still sell it.

@Tiredandbored donyou mind me asking what type of phone it was. Was it like the old school “bricks” ?

Yes, it is a very simple 'brick' handset. I would need to check the model, but it was the only dumb phone option in the shop.

I had bought the same one a few years ago for a friend who has learning difficulties and needed a simple phone for basic calls only. Clearly there isn't much demand, going by how few are for sale, but I'm glad we did it this way as my son now has a smart phone but is really sensible with how he uses it and he is not that fussed about using it all that much.

I'd get a brick phone that just phones and texts (they get upgraded to a smart phone when they start secondary school).

Sure, all different options for all different people. Sounds like your method worked out great for you.