Comments on: 11 year olds still in primary school DO NOT NEED SMARTPHONES

By: Sharon Parry

Sharon Parry — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 10:34:48 +0000

Yep this issue shows no signs of going away. My daughter is 11 and walks to school alone and yes she has a phone. I need her to have one otherwise i just get too anxious about where she is. Yes, it is a smartphone because she got my old one when I had an upgrade so it cost nothing. I do completely understand what you are saying and with another two older teen daughters the contract fees alone cost me a fortune! Thanks so much for sharing with us at #TweensTeensBeyond

By: Martyn

Martyn — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 17:47:24 +0000

Oh i dread when this day comes! I agree. They don’t need one. Ipads will work the same. They will never see that though.

By: Sonia

Sonia — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:04:56 +0000

The general thoughts of parents in my eldest’s year was that they got them either for Christmas or birthday (which ever came later) during year 6. I, like you, wasn’t keen on spending out on anything expensive so we bought a new case for an old phone we had from an upgrade and she’s on my plan with no internet (only wifi)- actually one of the cheapest birthday presents ever!! TBH she hardly uses it ATM but I’m thinking that will change once she goes up to secondary school. I will be strict on social media too. #TweensTeensBeyond

By: Jo - Mother of Teenagers

Jo - Mother of Teenagers — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 09:37:00 +0000

Both my children had a phone when they moved to secondary school and were travelling alone, but they were the nokia ones not smartphones. Nowadays everyone seems to have a smartphone as the deals are so good and they clearly combine so many uses like games and music that make the nintendos and ipods defunct almost. I featured a guest post on my blog a couple of weeks ago by a rheumatologist who has started a company called No Phone Zone to raise awareness of smartphone overuse syndrome amongst our young children. Take a read, there are some interesting facts and figures and some alarming ones too. Thanks for linking Karen. #TweensTeensBeyond

By: Susie/So Happy In Town

Susie/So Happy In Town — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 14:00:42 +0000

I’m so with you. My daughter is also about to enter year 6 and I’ve told her specifically that there is no way on earth she will be getting a phone. I taught in year 6 last year, and maybe 2 or 3 kids had a phone who were travelling a bit further to get home. But my friend who’s child is in year 6 now says it’s all gone up a gear and they all have phones, and they’re all on instagram. Has the world gone mad?! I see them coming out of school, not looking where they’re going as they’re glued to their screens. Social media is a scary enough world which they will inevitably embrace at some point soon but in year 6… no way. #TweensTeensBeyond

By: safesharkhosting

safesharkhosting — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:40:50 +0000

In reply to Joe.

Parents need to be smarter than their kids. The attitude of “kids can figure out ways to override things” is frankly lazy. We have it set up so that she currently cannot access anything without two passwords and my fingerprint, because I know kids are smart but I intend to remain in control for a long time over what she can access. And iPod cannot be used outside of wifi so she cannot use it for a lot if she doesn’t have access to wifi, so it’s not exactly like a phone.

By: safesharkhosting

safesharkhosting — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:38:20 +0000

In reply to Joe.

At the moment she can’t override anything because the account she has is linked directly to mine. She can’t even buy in game stuff without it coming up on my phone and it needs two passwords to allow her to add it, which she doesn’t know and my fingerprint to allow it. Whilst kids are smart, parents have to be smarter, frankly and need to be on top of what their kids can access. We are in no way complacent, about it.

By: Midlife Dramas in Pyjamas

Midlife Dramas in Pyjamas — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:34:40 +0000

Both our kids didn’t get a phone until they were leaving year 6. They didn’t need one and no amount of whining was going to change that. They’re now 15 & 17 and have only got smartphones in the least few years. They are both NEVER off them so you are right to hold off for as long as possible… #TweensTeensBeyond

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 04:30:57 +0000

Her iPod is capable of doing the EXACT same things as an iPhone. Free apps can be installed for it to act as a phone, text messaging, etc. Whatever trouble she can get into with an iPhone is the same with an iPod, iPad, etc. Kids are smart enough to override whatever parental guidelines are put in place, so unless you’re looking over her shoulder while she’s using it, she can do the same as with a phone. While I’m in agreement with you that kids generally don’t need phones at this age (at least not ones that cost hundreds of dollars), their mp3 players and tablets can certainly function the same.

By: Kim Carberry

Kim Carberry — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 18:58:51 +0000

My girl is 9. She’s going into YR6 in September and will be getting a phone for her birthday over the holidays but it will be a basic one, not a smartphone and it will have no internet. I have spied one for just over £10 which will do her. I am only getting her one because she will be walking to and from school herself.
My teen has a smartphone and hardly uses it. lol