What age does a child need a phone?

[Beep9724]

Hi all! My son is nearly 10. He does actually have an old iPhone with no SIM card in it. He uses it to take photos and videos etc, okay games. But he cannot call or text (unless it’s face time or I message).

He’s in year 5. I mentioned to dp about getting him a phone for Christmas when he is in year 6 so he can have one for secondary September 2022. Still a little way off yet.

He says he’s too young. But aibu to think he will need one when he goes secondary school? Seems like most of them take them. The local school say they can have a phone if stays in the bottom of their bag and can be used at lunchtimes I think. A bit different to when I was at school. Phones were a total no!!

When you child is doing something independently from an adult. So if walking home from school by themselves at age 9 then have a phone at age 9. If your child is never in a situation where there is not an adult they know with them (teacher, scout leader, friends parent with them at the park etc) then they don't need a phone.

Thanks all. He will be going on a bus to school to this is why I feel he needs one christmas this year or maybe birthday next year! He doesn’t really go anywhere alone right now but I guess he might when he’s older. He has some sen too which makes it harder.

My ds had a phone from yr5 as he walked home from school. He's now year 7 and a smartphone is essential for high school. He often has to taken photos of the whiteboard to be able to do homework. Also his school has various you tube channels which he needs to be able to watch. They scan the QR code in school to get to the right video.

Secondary school at earliest.

I don't see why travelling to secondary school means you need a mobile. Most of us did it without them, with no issues, or we solved them somehow if they did occur. I didn't get one till 6th form.

It's just another thing (and probably the most valuable thing, at that) for them to take care of and potentially get lost or stolen or damaged.

So I can't see it being necessary till 13+ (though I shan't be encouraging my daughter to get one; will just wait and see if she asks). But then she is home educated, so there isn't the same peer pressure as in school.

We do 11th birthday as they get bus/walk to school. Was so grateful my daughter has a phone when her bus ended up in a ditch in her first year at secondary!

My DS is 11 next week and will be getting his first phone. It’s just my old iPhone so nothing fancy but it will do him for a year or two at secondary school.

Genuinely don’t think children need a phone before secondary school.

Mine were 6 and 8. They had their family on what's app. Now they are 8 and 10 they have games and what's app. Older dd had two friends phone numbers but I deleted those after they were upsetting each other.

I don't see why travelling to secondary school means you need a mobile. Most of us did it without them, with no issues, or we solved them somehow if they did occur.

When I was at school without a mobile I had access to numerous public phone boxes so I could ring my parents to say that x club was cancelled or that 3 buses in a row hadn't turned up. Such things don't exist any more.
And if your child is stuck on a bus that's broken down, yes they can cope, but wouldn't you prefer the option that they can ring you and let you know?

Planning to get one for my DS for his 11th birthday this summer before he starts secondary in September. Tbh he could do with one now for when he goes to meet a friend in the park, but he’s having to learn how to manage without - ie find out the time from a clock and leave when he needs to to get home in time. He was walking home from school on his own last term but school has said no mobiles to be brought to school at all. I think that’s a COVID thing as in previous years they said year 6s could bring phones for the journey but had to hand them in at the office when they arrived which obviously doesn’t work nowadays. Probably about half his class have a phone already, the rest are all awaiting 11th birthdays!

I don't see why travelling to secondary school means you need a mobile. Most of us did it without them, with no issues, or we solved them somehow if they did occur.

We didn't have an inside toilet, or a washing machine, or a freezer, or a phone at all of any description so why do you need them now? 🙄

Mobiles are part of life now, they are never going away and children don't know a time without them. I agree that end of yr 6 is a good time.

My y 5s have an ipod with no SIM at the moment. They will get one of my old phones each with a SIM when they start y6 as walk to school alone from then. Seems to be the normal age here, the y6s have to drop them in a bucket before they go in the gate.

@rosiejaune

I don't see why travelling to secondary school means you need a mobile. Most of us did it without them, with no issues, or we solved them somehow if they did occur. I didn't get one till 6th form.

It's just another thing (and probably the most valuable thing, at that) for them to take care of and potentially get lost or stolen or damaged.

So I can't see it being necessary till 13+ (though I shan't be encouraging my daughter to get one; will just wait and see if she asks). But then she is home educated, so there isn't the same peer pressure as in school.

But there were payphones and reverse charge calls and phonecards then.

We got all ours phones for the start of year 7, once they were going to school on the bus rather than getting taken there.

DC1 got a brick in year 6 when she and her younger sister started getting the bus to school without me. They had to ring to say they'd got there and ring to say they were on their way home. DC1 got a smart phone in yr 7 as it was needed and DD then got the brick in yr 5 as she was still getting the bus with her sister. DD also got a smart phone for yr7 as it was then needed to check train times etc on her way home. Many schools encourage the use of phone in class (eg to photograph diagrams on the board, video science experiments).

Mine get/got a brick phone on starting secondary, so I agree with your husband.

They can use all the tech they like at home but it's just what we do. Not had any issues so far, they don't even seem to care.

Any time from year 5 and upwards I think is okay. Some year 5s and 6s walk to school alone (often not very far but still I think a phone is necessary). They should defitely have one before starting secondary school for safety reasons, communicating with parents and family, socialising with friends.

Whenever they start spending time away from you without adult supervision and they need a way of contacting you. Like walking to school on their own.

So could be Year 5 or 6 or the start of secondary school.

All of my DC got a phone for their birthdays before they went into Y7.

I got mine first year of secondary school, and that still seems to be normal-ish.

I’m another one who gave them from them going further afield to play. It was purely for my benefit as they have the tracking app and I was reassured they were where they were supposed to be.

We got our 10 year old a Nokia with a son card in it. He brings it anytime he’s leaves the house and it great to know I can contact him. I’m not sure about a proper phone with internet though but each to there own!😁

My two bath had then for their birthdays before starting year 7.

Ive just done this for DS 9. It's sooner than I would have but he got a galaxy fit watch for Christmas and most of the features need a phone with SIM to work. He's been using an old iPhone without a SIM for a while now.

Sky have a really good deal at the moment give free rental for life of the sim with free calls/texts. I just paid 1.50 per month for 2 yrs for an android handset that I sold on eBay.

My DS will get one at the end of this year for his 11th birthday. He is driven to/from school and activities currently. I’m hoping the novelty will then have worn off a bit by the time he’s traveling to school on a bus and needs one. I think a phone is a big ticket item so want it to be given for birthday or Christmas rather than just getting it.

A lot of his friends have phones already and I sometimes let him use my phone to join in the WhatsApp group they have... waking up to 402 msgs exchanged overnight the other morning has strengthened my resolve further to wait a year!