Yondr pouches - why are some parents against them?

[aperolspritzbasicbitch]

I’ve seen a lot of comments (online, never come
across anyone is real life, although it’s not a conversation I’ve had much) from parents that are massively against their child’s school supplying them with Yondr pouches.

For those of you that don’t know, they are fabric pouches with a magnetic closure. Pupils are expected to put their phones in them when they start school, and use the magnets stationed around the exits of the school to undo them at the end of the day.

My child’s school use them, and I have no negative opinions about it at all. They haven’t pulled the idea out of their arse or stumped up the cost for no reason - phones were obviously causing an issue.

I can’t see why any parent would be backing their child up with a refusal. Although, that wouldn’t stand in my child’s school. They would be suspended if they are caught without their phone in the pouch. Spot checks are done during the day.chat

Some bus companies have changed.
Some have said they will be sorting it.
It just seems the typical thing of different departments not talking to each other.
It should have been sorted out FIRST.
Department of Education should have been talking to Department of Transport.
Obviously I don't really know....but I could bet you a Freddo bar they didn't 😂
(as for homework on apps....well that's on each individual school)

Oh absolutely. I mean the DfES doesn't appear to talk to itself and certainly not to health nor the Treasury nor HMRC so why the heck would it talk to transport?!!

This is really judgmental. My daughter has had a phone since 9 as that’s when she started walking to school herself. She has situational mutism so being able to type or call me has opened her world up so much. She is 13 now and averages 4 hours a week on her phone (I can see it on the family setting on my phone) - almost entirely reading books on Libby while waiting for dance class.

She doesn’t have Snapchat or TikTok and is super fit and active - dances 16 hours a week and walks a mile each way to school every day. The phone has been nothing but a positive thing for us and I am so grateful she can have so much freedom while also being able to ask for help when she needs it.

Most people recognise using phones at school isnt a good thing and steps need to be taken to regulate use. However, i think if we are honest with ourselves we can understand that most teens (like most adults) find it helpful to use phones out of school including on the commute.

My DD chats to friends on whatsapp etc., listens to spotify and keeps me updated on movements ( e. g. letting me know a club is cancelled & i dont need to collect, telling me she is going to the park/a mates and will be late etc.) Could she manage without it - yes i suppose so. However, it is convinient and helpful to be able to use it. I think it is easy to get sanctimonious about smart phone use, but they are part of life and part of growing up is learning how to use them responsibly. Nobody needs a smart phone, but most people find using one helpful. Most people on this thread will be using a phone to comment .

DD is also active (does loads of sport) despite having a smartphone. She also sometimes wears mascara .....

I might never stop! We are in a group with DH too so we can all see where each other is. I don't consider it a negative thing as no one is questioning or criticising where anyone else has been. It is just nice to know. I think tracking without consent in order to use that information for nefarious reasons is obviously a problem but tracking with mutual consent just for information and reassurance really isn't.

I actually feel that it has made me a more relaxed parent. We took her and her friends on a holiday abroad a few years ago and (with their consent and the consent of their parents) we tracked them for the duration of the holiday and it meant that they could have their own freedom and we could relax.

I am glad to finally meet the elusive perfect parent. Honestly there are as many ways to give a child a smartphone as there are children. Punishing all families because some families can’t put limits and expectations on their own children is very unfair. It’s not like we stop selling sweets because some children are overweight or stop selling tablets because some children are addicted to YouTube. Teaching your kids how to respect rules and practice self care is important too.

My child stopped bringing her phone to school. She said she gets to jump the queue going in and out of school. She seems happier as she gets back quicker. I don’t use her phone to track her. Only thing I track is my car using an Apple tag!