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Yes, I imagine she will have her own smartphone at some point....don't know when, and certainly not for a number of years! When she does, that thing will be on parental lock-down for sure.

I don't see why not, as long as they are controlled and monitored. As an example, it is not to be used during school, unless it is used as a teaching tool.

I got my first cellphone in 1997 when I got my first full time job after graduating college.

I don't even have a smartphone, so I just can't imagine getting them for my kids!! But by the time they are teens, maybe. I'll certainly want them to have a phone at some point so I can get a hold of them, but do they really need a data plan? I doubt it.

With my DSS's the rule was we provided a phone - if they wanted the data plan (aka: smartphone) they had to pay the extra $$ for it.

I got my first phone at 16 because that was when I started driving. I think it is hard to see where cell phones are in 15ish years, but I am sure my kid will have one by that point. They'll probably have one out of necessity and not because their friends have one.

It's so hard to say because the times change so quickly. I'm positive that when cell phones first came out not a single parent could imagine why they would need to give one to their child and yet it's kind of the norm now. I just hope that with whatever is available to and/or needed by my family when the time comes, we strike a good balance between allowing freedom and cultivating trust without just giving them free reign and doing who knows what.

We were previously opposed to our oldest (13 next month) even having a phone, much less a smart phone, and of course now he has one. We changed our mind because:
- We don't have a landline. (He was sharing my cell number with his friends and they were calling and texting me.)
- We needed to reach him when he's at non-school events.
- We switched our plan,so his phone was free and our monthly bill even went down.
- It was a gift/reward for his 6th grade promotion (he was the student of the year!).
- Anticipated that it would be a great threat/deterent for bad behavior and OMG is it ever!

Having said that, we have strict phone rules.
- It's understood that it's "our" phone that we allow him to use so we can take/inspect whenever we want.
- He's not allowed to take it to school.
- No Facebook/Instagram
- He doesn't know the Apple password so he can't download apps without our approval.
- He can use it freely on the weekends, and M-F once his homework is done.
- Not allowed at dinner table (includes restaurants) or when visiting with friends and family.

All this makes us sound like dictators, but we want whats best for him. Sorry for the novel.

Mine aren't even born yet, so I have no idea what kind of dilemma I'll be facing in another 12-15 years! i'm not patently opposed to the idea, but I don't want fascination with technology to interfere with learning to be entertained by reading, playing outside and other activities.