What recommendations y'all got? Basically text and call only. Something easy to use for a few years?
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Best non-smart phone for pre teens
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Last: 4 mo ago by texsn95
Nokia (HMD now) still make versions of their old"brick" phones. I'd start there.
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
I purchased my son an Apple Watch w/ cellular. He has the ability to call and text w/out all the iPhone distractions (it is tied to his iPad but we use "Screen Time" for parental controls). Plus, he can track all of his summer conditioning workouts with the Fitness app.
spoken like everyone on the planet that doesn't have kids or hasn't had them yet...zooguy96 said:
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
_______________________________________________________
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!!!
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!!!
Astroag said:spoken like everyone on the planet that doesn't have kids or hasn't had them yet...zooguy96 said:
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
I have 13 nieces and nephews and taught for 10 years. Most of my nieces and nephews didn't have phones until they were 16.
Phones are a distraction for most kids. They were infinitely useless in class, and were nothing but a distraction from learning.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
zooguy96 said:Astroag said:spoken like everyone on the planet that doesn't have kids or hasn't had them yet...zooguy96 said:
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
I have 13 nieces and nephews and taught for 10 years. Most of my nieces and nephews didn't have phones until they were 16.
Phones are a distraction for most kids. They were infinitely useless in class, and were nothing but a distraction from learning.
I'll stand by my point (and I don't necessarily disagree)
_______________________________________________________
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!!!
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!!!
Astroag said:zooguy96 said:Astroag said:spoken like everyone on the planet that doesn't have kids or hasn't had them yet...zooguy96 said:
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
I have 13 nieces and nephews and taught for 10 years. Most of my nieces and nephews didn't have phones until they were 16.
Phones are a distraction for most kids. They were infinitely useless in class, and were nothing but a distraction from learning.
I'll stand by my point (and I don't necessarily disagree)
I don't necessarily disagree with you either. From what I saw as a teacher, too many parents were trying to be their kid's friends instead of trying to be their parents.
It is similar to what you go through when you first become a teacher. You you try to be nice to the kids so that they will do work for you. What you find out, however, is that if you stick to your guns, while still treating them with respect, they respect you more for it and will work harder for you.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
My sons got phones when it was convenient for me. My oldest is a high school athlete, cellist, farm hand, and active in multiple organizations at school. Coupled with us living 22 miles from town, it was necessary for us to coordinate getting hi to and from school.
Youngest got a phone for Christmas, see most of the reasons above except for cellist.
There are some flip phones out there that we tried initially, but quickly went to smart phones for Life360. Especially since my oldest turned 16. This way we know that he gets to his destination safely.
My kids are good kids and I trust them. We have to kinda force my oldest to go to town. Mainly because he knows he's got farm work the next morning.
Youngest got a phone for Christmas, see most of the reasons above except for cellist.
There are some flip phones out there that we tried initially, but quickly went to smart phones for Life360. Especially since my oldest turned 16. This way we know that he gets to his destination safely.
My kids are good kids and I trust them. We have to kinda force my oldest to go to town. Mainly because he knows he's got farm work the next morning.
My kids have phones. Smartphones. I want to be able to track them and I want them to be able to easily communicate. Make it hard for them and they'll get creative.
Do any non smart phones come with the tracking feature?
Basically I'm trying to avoid access to internet browsing.
Basically I'm trying to avoid access to internet browsing.
We got my 8 year old a flip phone for emergency uses. The only time we're ever without her for an extended period of time is dance practice. This way she can call us if it gets cancelled or if she gets sick.
https://www.verizon.com/basic-phones/
https://www.verizon.com/basic-phones/
zooguy96 said:Astroag said:zooguy96 said:Astroag said:spoken like everyone on the planet that doesn't have kids or hasn't had them yet...zooguy96 said:
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
I have 13 nieces and nephews and taught for 10 years. Most of my nieces and nephews didn't have phones until they were 16.
Phones are a distraction for most kids. They were infinitely useless in class, and were nothing but a distraction from learning.
I'll stand by my point (and I don't necessarily disagree)
I don't necessarily disagree with you either. From what I saw as a teacher, too many parents were trying to be their kid's friends instead of trying to be their parents.
It is similar to what you go through when you first become a teacher. You you try to be nice to the kids so that they will do work for you. What you find out, however, is that if you stick to your guns, while still treating them with respect, they respect you more for it and will work harder for you.
It's possible to keep your kid without a phone. They'll nag and complain, but you have stand your ground.
Our daughter didn't get a phone till she started driving. And it even wasn't a regular phone. Got her a Pinwheel. She complained about that too. Just recently upgraded her, now 17, to a regular phone. I still ended up installing a 3rd party app to monitor ALL her activity and track her. Can't be too safe nowadays!
Our son was a different story. With him being in sports, had to have a way to communicate with him. He's going to be 13. He's using a hand me down phone. I'm also able to monitor his activity.
Like I said, it's possible. Parents just have to remember they are still in charge and not bend to the will of their child just to avoid the wining. Our job is not to be a friend to our children. Tough love!
ausag said:zooguy96 said:Astroag said:zooguy96 said:Astroag said:spoken like everyone on the planet that doesn't have kids or hasn't had them yet...zooguy96 said:
Get 'em a flip phone. They can use that until college.
If I had kids, they wouldn't have phones.
I have 13 nieces and nephews and taught for 10 years. Most of my nieces and nephews didn't have phones until they were 16.
Phones are a distraction for most kids. They were infinitely useless in class, and were nothing but a distraction from learning.
I'll stand by my point (and I don't necessarily disagree)
I don't necessarily disagree with you either. From what I saw as a teacher, too many parents were trying to be their kid's friends instead of trying to be their parents.
It is similar to what you go through when you first become a teacher. You you try to be nice to the kids so that they will do work for you. What you find out, however, is that if you stick to your guns, while still treating them with respect, they respect you more for it and will work harder for you.
It's possible to keep your kid without a phone. They'll nag and complain, but you have stand your ground.
Our daughter didn't get a phone till she started driving. And it even wasn't a regular phone. Got her a Pinwheel. She complained about that too. Just recently upgraded her, now 17, to a regular phone. I still ended up installing a 3rd party app to monitor ALL her activity and track her. Can't be too safe nowadays!
Our son was a different story. With him being in sports, had to have a way to communicate with him. He's going to be 13. He's using a hand me down phone. I'm also able to monitor his activity.
Like I said, it's possible. Parents just have to remember they are still in charge and not bend to the will of their child just to avoid the wining. Our job is not to be a friend to our children. Tough love!
Yeah, too often, kids demand whatever they want, and the parents give in. Friends of the family gives their son whatever he wants, and he's a total brat.
The majority of kids I've worked with have no accountability - and it is not to their benefit. Kids need to have more accountability and less whatever they want all the time.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
Oh here come all the people preaching how they are superior parents and how all other parents should take notes…
Spare us your sanctimony
Spare us your sanctimony
_______________________________________________________
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!!!
If ya ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin!!!
Exactly. Use the ease of smartphones against them. I kept an old Motorola candy bar phone with T9 to swap their SIM card into if taking away the smartphone became necessary as a punishment for misuse. Only had to do it once.BrazosDog02 said:
My kids have phones. Smartphones. I want to be able to track them and I want them to be able to easily communicate. Make it hard for them and they'll get creative.
We use Gabb. It's technically a smart phone but it's a low end one that was free with service plan. It was cheaper than adding a line on my Verizon plan. You can pick from very limited apps and you can pick what makes it on to the phone. We use as you said- texting, calling and does have a tracking capability. We have kids 12/9/4. We call it the "house" phone and it stays in our bedroom. it is used by the older two for drop offs/pick ups and if someone is sleeping over at someone else's house.
I appreciate all the feedback
Another vote for Gabb, it's worked well with our oldest (13) and as the others get to that age they will get one as well.
In the same boat, twin girls that'll be 14 in a few months, will look into some of these suggestions.
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