Phone for Kids

wardrop on 21/11/2024 - 11:22

A family friend is looking into getting either a celulluar-enabled smart watch (like a SpaceTalk or Apple Watch) or phone for each of their two kids (~10 and ~12) so they're contactable and trackable. I'm arguing in favor of a phone as it's more versatile, less gimicky, and simpler in terms of SIM cards and cellular options.

The question is, what would make for a solid reasonably priced phone for a kid? The parents run iPhones so an iPhone would make life easy in terms of managing screen time and stuff, but unfortunately the budget won't allow for even an iPhone SE. The recent Motorola Edge 50 deals were right in the ballpark at $350 which would be a very good phone for the price, but I don't feel such as a big phone with rounded "edge" display would be the most practical for a kid.

Any thoughts, ideas or recommendations?

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • spackbace on 21/11/2024 - 11:24
    +7

    Usually just give them a hand down when parents upgrade. They don't have any spares?

    • boomramada on 21/11/2024 - 12:06
      +7

      People at my workplace, they get the old phones when kids get the upgrades lol

    • AustriaBargain on 21/11/2024 - 14:59

      This is how it is. Millions of kids in Australia constantly begging their parents to upgrade so they get get the old phone.

  • omguleh on 21/11/2024 - 11:26
    +7

    Get a watch, less distractions and temptations for apps.

    • wardrop on 21/11/2024 - 11:41
      +1

      Yeah starting to think the SpaceTalk might be the best option in that respect, because I know these kids will be busting their mothers balls for more apps and screentime and I know she'll cave.

      • sumyungguy on 21/11/2024 - 11:43
        +3

        I fear a 12yo with a Spacetalk may experience social exclusion

        • wardrop on 21/11/2024 - 11:49
          +1

          haha, that did cross my mind actually. That can be the parents to judge and cross that bridge.

        • SlickMick on 22/11/2024 - 09:38

          When the option is Spacetalk or nothing, I think the Spacetalk becomes more attractive

        • 2esc on 22/11/2024 - 11:22

          Depends on the particular child and their current involvement with school, friends and afterschool activities. My 15 year old son does game but doesnt use social media much but does have two part time jobs hangs out with his mates and girlfriend after school maybe 5 nights a week and on the week end. We need to book time with him nearly.

  • sumyungguy on 21/11/2024 - 11:29
    +1

    iPhone 12 mini Like New $429 Grade B $369; is this too expensive?

  • MrThing on 21/11/2024 - 11:30
    +11

    or just no phone and no smart watch

  • Benoffie on 21/11/2024 - 11:35
    +4

    First thing - what is the school policy?

    No point in a watch that has to be removed upon entering school every day 🤷‍♀️

  • kolorijo on 21/11/2024 - 11:37
    +3

    One dumb phone & Airtag for each kid.

    • wardrop on 21/11/2024 - 11:42

      Airtag not a bad idea for tracking actually!

    • parsimonious one on 21/11/2024 - 11:44
      +1

      +1 good ol’ Nokia is just fine for a kid

      but the AirTag doesn’t provide good realtime tracking.

      The one our kid has only sporadically updates and you can’t force it to update its location

      • wardrop on 21/11/2024 - 11:48

        True true

      • freefall101 on 21/11/2024 - 11:58

        It works off nearby phones, it updates automatically if it has something it can connect to. If you're really worried, mark it as lost and it'll notify you as soon as it's found.

        I always find it notifies me within a minute or so for the one I keep in my work bag.

      • MrThing on 21/11/2024 - 12:03

        3320 ftw the OG

  • MrThing on 21/11/2024 - 12:03
    +3

    heaven forbid how us 90s kids coped with no phones, no trackers and we just walked ourselves to school

    • bargaino on 21/11/2024 - 12:08
      +7

      In the snow. Uphill, both ways.

      • Shoocat on 21/11/2024 - 21:32
        +3

        Also barefoot with broken glass everywhere.

  • JIMB0 on 21/11/2024 - 12:36

    A length of string and 2 cups.

  • jv on 21/11/2024 - 13:04

    The question is, what would make for a solid reasonably priced phone for a kid?

    refurb iphone 12 / 12 mini

  • Pedrolino on 21/11/2024 - 13:05

    We've got this one:

    https://imoostore.com/products/imoo-watch-phone-z1

    It's cheap Chinese-made wear, but it's a good entry level kids watch. It also has "class mode" (restricted features from 9am to 3pm, or whatever times you set it to).

    Their latest model is the Z7.

    • leiiv on 21/11/2024 - 13:51

      Where do you buy them from?

  • GordonD on 21/11/2024 - 13:54

    If the bill banning social media access for under 16s goes through, how much wilkl kids need phones?

    Silly me .. they don't NEED phones now.

    • Bruceflix on 21/11/2024 - 18:45

      yeah, coz kids will never work out how to circumvent these bans

      • sumyungguy on 21/11/2024 - 19:02
        -2

        Well at least their sh!t parents

  • Bruceflix on 21/11/2024 - 18:48
    +1

    Both my kids, for their first phones, got the cheapest, nastiest phones I could find as first phones. No case or screen protector allowed. All done to teach them how fragile phone screens are and how easily they can smash/crack/scratch. With both, it didn't take long for them to learn the lesson which, so far has never been repeated on their flagship model phones they've had since.

  • Awake on 21/11/2024 - 23:13

    we had kidsoclock for our kids for a few years. Even knocked on the door of the kid who took it one time, thanks to the tracker! Cheaper than spacetalk, can use any sim in it, and no monthly app costs. at 11, one wants a phone (it will be dumb phone if any) and the other is happy with the kidsoclock.

  • davenpru on 22/11/2024 - 12:47

    https://www.jbhifi.com.au/search?query=motorola+edge+50+neo this is a good buy with 5 years software update and also easy to implement parental controls.

    Got this for my 12 year old nephew . The build quality is plastic so will survive kids and the falls the phone will have .

    Pretty good deals for a 2024 phone marked down from 700 dollars

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