My oldest is 12 and keeps bugging me for a phone. All his friends apparently have one. I'm not sure if I'm being overprotective or if 12 is actually too young. Looking for some real perspective from other parents on this. What age did you think was right?
Don't do it yet. Trust me. Mine got one at 12 and suddenly there's a whole new world of problems. Group chats, Snapchat drama, screen time battles. Wait until they're a little older and can handle the responsibility.
We held off until 13 with our oldest and honestly it felt right. At 12 the peer pressure is real but you're not being overprotective - give it another year and see how you feel.
I get the 'all his friends have one' argument, but you know your kid best. We went with a basic phone first, no social media, and it worked for us.
I gave mine a basic flip phone for emergencies at 11. A smartphone didn't come until 14 and even then we had limits. The friend pressure is real but you're the parent. Your 12 year old will survive without one longer than he'll remember you caving to peer pressure.
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My oldest is 13 and just got one last month. But we have it set up with parental controls and I can see her location. She knows the deal - this is a privilege, not a right. Started with some pushback but she's settled into it.
The all his friends have one thing is always true and always will be true no matter when you give it to him. I made mine wait until 13 and he's thriving without it having ruined his social life.