Q for parents of Y8 children…..

[NotdeadyetBOING]

Do you allow them to keep their phones (assuming they have them) in their rooms overnight. DS insists that I am destroying his social life and any hope of being 'popular' by not allowing this. Apparently others are on deeply inane 'chats' at all hours of the night. My sense is that the right thing to do is stay strong and insist on all screens being downstairs at bedtime, but another part of me worries that there may be some truth in what he says. So canvassing views from other parents of children at the same stage.

I have a 12 and 15 year old and all phones downstairs to charge overnight here. That includes mine and DH's.

Yes but I trust him not to be on it. If I thought he were going to be using it at all hours then no, it would stay in the lounge.

No. my dd13 has her phone taken off her at night.
We used to do the same for her brother when he was younger.
He's 16 now so can keep his phone with him.

yes - but only because he's not a big phone user (I realise him & his gang are the only year 8s in this group!) so I trust him with it. I discussed with him yesterday that if I ever catch him on it after lights out it'll be out of the room immediately!

Year 8 and Year 10 here. All phones charging in kitchen by 9.30 latest. I came down for a hot water bottle at 3am the other morning and both were flashing with incoming messages. One set of parents gives in and the whole class loses their sleep from FOMO. Ridiculous.

Mine has hers but that's because she listens to audiobooks to go to sleep - she has strict instructions when in bed that she's not allowed to use it for any other purpose.

Thank you all for your replies. Hopefully they will keep coming so I can get a big scientific sample!

Yr 9 here and all phones and laptops are removed from bedrooms half an hour before lights out. I know mine can't be trusted yet (we've already gone through this...)

No, dd1's phone charges overnight, no exceptions, though I allow her to have it for an extra hour on non-school nights.

No, dd1's phone charges overnight, no exceptions, though I allow her to have it for an extra hour on non-school nights.

As a teacher, please stick to your guns and keep phones/tech out of bedrooms. Your child's grades will reflect this! I see far too many exhausted kids because they don't have the self control not to look at their phone.

I don't take my 12 year olds away tbh he barely uses it watches you tube on it that's about it he doesn't phone or text.

No - in school bag downstairs overnight.

If they aren't using it, then no problem with it being downstairs.
If they are using it, then that is a problem.

Phones downstairs to charge overnight. It's on the advice of school, which makes it easier to enforce.
In fact when there was some cyber bullying at midnight towards one child from classmates all the parents were given a bollocking for their kids having access to devices at that time of night.

I wish our school would give some guidance on the subject. Would be far easier to be able to enforce, as you say Somerville. Think I will suggest they do so.

Year 8 & year 10 parent here.

All phones downstairs 30 mins before lights out.

Dds school definately wrote to us to advise this. I think itvwas covered in an Internet safety talk at ds's school.

On charge in kitchen at night. I just heard it buzz a couple of minutes ago with some notification or other..