Reply #10: Mine got his in HS for the same reason

[JerseygirlCT]

and it wasn't until he was in maybe jr./sr. year that he used it for much of anything except for me to call him or for him to call me - for a ride home, usually.

He was always very responsible - we got a pay as you go one, and we didn't give him more than a small alotment of time. He understood that the purpose was not his entertainment or socializing, but for our convenience.

I'm hesitant about a child entering middle school, myself. That's a tough age. But individual children are so different in their approach to any new privilege and its attendant responsibilities.

Healthwise? We just don't know, do we? And yes, texting is much, much more it now. My older has a plan now with unlimited texting - that's most of what he does, and though I'll never, ever learn to do it like he does (left thumb only no less!), it's fine and it's not running up the phone bill!