She makes a decent argument honestly but I'm not ready. All her friends apparently have one already which feels like a lie but whatever. Thinking about getting her a basic phone for calls and texts only but she's gonna lose her mind. Anyone deal with this age group yet? When did you cave?
10 is really young IMO. I get the pressure from other parents but you don't owe your kid a phone just because everyone else has one. We held out til 12 and she survived.
Four boys here and we're dealing with this exact thing right now. The friend argument never stops, but holding the line a year or two longer really does make a difference. Stick with your instinct.
10 feels young to me, and I say that as a dad dealing with the same pressure. The 'all her friends have one' thing is definitely a negotiating tactic, trust your gut on this one.
I've got four kids and this debate hits different with each one. Maybe work out a compromise like a basic phone for emergencies or a delayed timeline instead of going all in? That way you're not the bad guy but you're still in control.
The 'decent argument' part is what gets me every time. They're getting better at negotiating! But yeah, 10 feels early. Maybe offer a compromise like a basic phone with limited features?
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All the friends thing is real but also not actually all of them. There's usually at least one or two other parents in the same boat. Might help to connect with them so your kid doesn't feel totally isolated.