Screen time 9 year old?

[animalannie]

Dd is 9 and is complaining all her friends have a phone or tablet, is this true? Do your 9 year olds all have phones?
I haven't allowed much screen time much up until now other than television and occasionally using my phone for school related apps like numbots, times table rock starts and dojo.
What age are you letting them have their own and for how long are they using them?

Our nine year old has a phone, however he only has age appropriate apps, so no whatsapp etc, he also doesn’t have safari so he can’t browse the net. He doesn’t have the apple ID etc and only we can download games for him, we limit his time on it and its always supervised, so not playing on it late at night etc.

No to a phone at 9. What does she want to do on a screen that she's not already doing?

If some of the kids at the primary school where I'm a governor are anything to go by, setting up WhatsApp groups and then being deeply unpleasant to each other. Obviously, school staff then have to spend their time dealing with it.

Say no.

I can't see an issue with a 9 year old having access to a tablet for games etc.

A phone is also fine if they're out and about independently. Obviously locked down appropriately.

I think that phones are appalling for kids so DS10 doesn't have one. I'm holding out for as long as possible. He plays a few games on my tablet and watches TV, YouTube, with the family.

Mine has a tablet and switch, but they are ‘ours’ and not his and we take them away if any trouble. He’s mostly good with them and have no problems turning off when asked. They’re not allowed upstairs. I’ve said he can have a phone at secondary school, but I don’t know how that will fit in with the other kids in the class.

My 9 year old doesn't have a phone and won't be getting one any time soon. There are some kids in his class who do have them but it feels like the majority don't. Neither of my kids will be having smartphones for a long time - I'll get them dumb phones when they need it (guess when they start going out and about on their own) but absolutely not letting them be at the mercy of tech companies at such a young age. I remember reading about how the kids of silicon valley workers don't have phones/tablets - they know that they're purposely making highly addictive devices. I think we'll look back on this period in years to come and be amazed at what we let become the norm for children and teenagers.

My 10 year old doesn't have a phone, she won't be getting one until secondary school. I'd say about 50% of her class have one.
She does have her own tablet (DHs old one) which is set up with parental controls, she plays games with it or can watch movies. She's not allowed it after 8pm

Similar situation to you OP. Our 9 yo is desperate for a phone or tablet as ‘all her friends have one’ and to be fair most do. We’re holding out as long as we can. Have a look at the smart phone free childhood: it makes me feel less alone when I’m saying mo smart tech till she’s a teen….
https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk

My 11 year old had a phone at 9. He also had a gaming set up (pc basically) and still does. He and his brother are v good with tech now. They have v good awareness of internet safety. They know their way around a computer v well. My 11 yr old is building his own computer game using a professional app and YouTube tutorials. He has a 3d printer he saved for and is able to make all kinds of creations.

I find the world of tech fascinating. I am in no way anti phone or ant screen. It's the future and my opinion is that children need to gradually increase their IT and tech skills over time so that by the time they are old enough to access all the apps themself they r v safe, very internet aware, and completely tech savvy.

DDs both got tablets on their 9th birthday. They got very basic phones when they started secondary school. We gradually upgraded their phones as they got older. They are 16 and 18 now and have iPhone which they paid for.
So I'd say yes to a tablet but have time restrictions on it (mine were allowed 90 minutes as long as homework and chores were done so tbh was rarely as much as 90 minutes in the week) but no to a phone, unless they go out frequently without you.

Mine didn’t have a phone at 9, but i’d say 90% plus of the class will have a tablet / laptop. Your decision though, maybe get a tablet and limit it to half an hour a day or so.

Personally I have never limited screen time, but my teens are really self motivated and very academic so have become good at regulating their own time.

DS is 9.

He does not have a phone or a tablet or any manner of portable devices.

He has a desktop PC on which he does much magic with Scratch, basic Python, Chess, maths, homework and creative writing.

On weekends he is allowed to borrow DH's PlayStation 5 (which DH himself hasn't had the time to use in a year) to play FIFA and Cricket 22 (or whatever it's called) and Minecraft on the single player build mode I think

No phones or tablets until secondary school. My kids are 15 now and I'm so glad we did this.

My ds9 has a tablet. He plays Minecraft on it and uses it for assistive tech to support reading, learning to type and other learning - eg times tables. Hd gets an hour of Minecraft a day and more time for other stuff as required. (He did play other games but now just wants to play Minecraft)