Help please. My 11 year old daughter is badgering me everyday for a smartphone. She insists that every child she knows gets a smartphone for their 12th birthday (coming up 28/8 for her) or at least by the time they start high school.
What do you do in your home? What are pro's and con's of having 24/7 connection at this age?
If you allow it, what rules do you set?
Smartphone at 12
Thursday, 17 August 2017 - 15:45
Smartphone at 12
Posted in:
Kids
14 Replies
I think 12 is pretty much the norm these days.
I've decided I'll buy my kids a smart phone for Christmas before they start high school (they're only 6,8 and 9 currently so I have a while to worry about it).
The rules I will implement will be:
1. No phones at night/in bed, just to set up good habits. I've recently stopped using my phone at night and I've been sleeping so much better. So I think this is important!
2. I will have all access to phone pin codes and social media accounts.
3. It will be a pre paid plan and they'll be responsible for earning money for credit.
Personally it depends on the child. What is there internet etc safety/awareness like. Are they currently trustworthy.
My niece had hers for an entire month before it had to be confiscated. She was 12. She was breaking school phone rules, trying to play her parents off against each other and communicating with her friends in unhealthy ways.
Personally I'd go with a cheap pre-paid, with limited credit that you put in each month. If she proves she can look after it, be safe, follow the rules etc then graduate to something in line with what she wants. She needs to know you will be monitoring usage and when/where she can use the phone.
There is no way I'd purchase a 12 year old a $600 piece of equipment and expect them to have the maturity to look after it without some life lessons along the way.
Thanks
My daughter wont be getting one she is 11.
Thanks
Our kids won't be getting their own phone until they are able to pay the bill for said phone. We do have old phones that we loan to our kids for short periods for emergency use only.
Thanks
My 12 year old son has a basic talk and text phone, and it's only for emergencies. We don't have a landline at home so I went the option of a cheap mobile so if he stays home while I go to the shops with his younger brother or if he decides to wander the shops if we all go, so we still have easy contact. He only has my number and my parents who live nearby saved as contacts, and possibly one friend. He has an iPad for school so he uses that to chat with friends. My son can buy his own smartphone when he can afford it, and afford to pay for credit. I personally don't think kids need anything more than talk and text mobiles until they can pay for it themselves, especially if they have an iPad or tablet.
Thanks
Mine are only young but our plan is that they won't get their own until they can help pay for it (14.9months they can get a job right !? )
Before that they have iPads.
For when they are out without us we will have a shared spare phone they can use only in emergencies . I honestly think they are connected enough already . You open the world of potential predictors and bullying and not being old enough the understand why boundaries are in place .....
Gavin said that though I guess gone are the days of sitting with a land line for hours to your friends ...it looks different now i spouse ....
Thanks
My rule is: they can have a phone when they earn enough 1) to save up and buy said phone and 2) earn enough to pay for their own credit.
We had an incident recently where my daughters friend, that was having a sleepover, had a phone and they decided it would be hilarious to prank call everyone they could remember numbers for... definitely a sign that my child is not ready for the responsibility.
My rule is: they can have a phone when they earn enough 1) to save up and buy said phone and 2) earn enough to pay for their own credit.
We had an incident recently where my daughters friend, that was having a sleepover, had a phone and they decided it would be hilarious to prank call everyone they could remember numbers for... definitely a sign that my child is not ready for the responsibility.
Thanks