Mobile phone policy for 12 year old

[f0stercarer]

ok 12th birthday coming up for child. I get that its now time for her to have a phone (can we just take that as a given for now pls). Also it will be a smart phone (pls take that as a given too).Should I do PAYG or contract ? Are their more suitable phones for monitoring/restricting what can be downlaoded etc. Basically I am being lazy and want to piggyback on all the hard work and research others have done. Pls help.

Cheap PAYG until they prove they can look after it. DS has an Android and I use Google Family link to limit time, apps and content. He had a PAYG for a year and I have just taken out a contract for him. It has a sturdy case and screen protector.

I think PAYG would cost more overall. We have a tenner a month contract that has data and minutes and texts in it. He asks for more data but only needs it out of the house, it uses WiFi inside.
I'm impressed you've made it to 12 tbh!
Think about your own phone - your network sometimes has good deals with extra lines, mine could transfer data over for example.
We got a second hand iphone (he had cheaper smart phones from around 10) and I like this as I can use family restrictions via my iPhone - I can lock it automatically at a certain time of night and he has to run app downloads by me. I can find him on find my iPhone. If you yourself have an Android you might prefer that and there are bound to be compatible apps there too. And they are a bit cheaper let's face it. But ask for ideas - there will be fashionable phones in her school and getting her one she would be ashamed to take out in front of anyone wont help.

Absolutely agree with pp re a solid case and screen protector.
My dc's is currently in rice drying out but it's taken him three years to get it wet and has never cracked it so could be worse.

Mine are not allowed phones upstairs. So glad I started this (advice from friends with older children). Occasionally it gets challenged but not often. The punishment is that it gets removed for 24 hours but I haven't had to do that in ages. My argument is always that there has to be a space where you can escape messages and online bullying etc.

Many people I know regret not having the same!

i also meant to ask how you fund it. If patg do you give a monthly top up and then any extra they pay from pocket money or if monthly is that all on top of existing pocket money or does some of pocket money go towards the monthly contract. If i get a monthly contract with new phoine its about 14 per month for two years which means the birthday present costs about £400 quid by the time you add on case and screen protector. Thats without considering insurance (do you bother ?).

After the event ....
ok we decided on a samsung a10 pat as you go. Cheapest smartphone at £110. we were a bit worried it would be badly receicved as not being an iphone. All went well. We will buy occasional top up but she can use pocket money for more.no phones upstaiurs ever and she can use it for an hour in moning and hour in afternoon. All good so far. Linked to my email account so she needs my permission to download anything. Thanks for help.