Our private school does not allow cell phones to be used during the school day period. That is grades 1st - 8th. All cell phones must be off and not in view during the school day. Not even at lunchtime.

Cell phones should remain in backpacks during the school day. My children won't get a cell phone until the summer before middle school (in our area that is the summer before 7th grade).

Completely unneccessary. I have 3 older kids and 2 of them got their phones in 8th grade(one is 5th and doesn't have one even though lots of his friends do) when they were starting to venture to the movies and activities with friends. Any younger and they really aren't anywhere unsupervised.

- As a volunteer at after-school events, devices are the #1 distraction. In 5th grade the boys especially. At my 5th grade son’s birthday party, the majority brought phones and some wouldn’t look up from them. At after-school events some even play 2 devices at one time. - My 5th grade son doesn’t want a phone, but is increasingly dismayed and sad because he feels different. He has me drive him to/from school now because all his friends watch YouTube on the bus ride and he wants to talk with them but can’t.

I feel that elementary school children don’t need a cell phone just yet. My fifth grade daughter has a gizmo. We use it to keep in touch with each other if she walks home off the bus by herself or if she had to cross the neighborhood to go to a friend’s house. A gizmo is a great way to be able to communicate with your younger child without exposing them to all the other facets of a cell phone.

My 5th grade doesn't have a cellular plan. Just wifi.

Our daughter in grade 6 has a cell phone for safety, she walks to school. She has limited use but she is allowed to connect with friends, phone or text, in evenings. The phone is available for me to check on activity and not to be used beyond the set limits. It gives her freedom, ability to capture photographs and when allowed interact with others

I like that cell phone use is banned during school at my kids' school. The school is Pre-K to 8th grade.

Children in grade 6 and 9, neither have a phone or tablet

We are part of the wait until 8th campaign. About 80% of grade has signed on.

We’re in an urban area and many kids tend to have phones when they are younger...3rd, 4th, 5th grades because they are walking by themselves. (Not a necessity in my mind as there are other devices such as watches that help kids and parents communicate). It seems as though the electronic privileges of kids are lowering YOY and it’s disturbing. I share the belief (let’s hope it sticks!) with many other parents in a Hoboken when we say middle school for a phone (6th). Love your newsletters btw!

It would be great to have legislation that helps support everything we now know about the dangerous uses of screens. I have found that many schools are pushing a one-to-one iPad program that starts in 6th grade. With all that we know can this be the best foot forward for the next generation?

5th grade is in the middle school and many students are walkers. (No busses in the village)

My daughter has a deactivates phone she uses for games and music. We got it two months ago and I already regret it. Hard because she has a 7th grade sister with a phone she got over the summer.

I think it’s crazy that elementary school kids have cell phones. I can group the kids in the grade by those who have phones and those who don’t. Those who don’t (like y son) are the “creative kids”. They make up games at recess, their play dates they are running in and outside, making up games, playing sports and board games. The kids with the cell phones already are the Fortnite kids... that’s all they do.

As a family, we have decided that our kids will get a phone when they turn 12 or are in sixth grade. I think kids start using cell phones way too early nowadays.

I don't see a ton of it, but there are some students in 4th grade with phones.

At our school (which is K-12), most kids seem to get phones in 6th grade when they move to the upper campus, although middle school students are not allowed to use phones at any time on school premises during school hours.

Many other students in my kids' elementary school have cell phones. My kids report that many of them just watch YouTube videos. My son (5th grade) is starting to ask when he'll be able to get one. We've told him junior high. My wife (an LCSW and a school psychologist in elementary school) and I (assistant principal junior high) tend to be stricter about screens and devices than our kids' peers' parents.

We are trying the 'wait till 8th' campaign. Our oldest is in 7th grade, and it is challenging, but we took them to see screenagers last year and it did help to hear it from experts (and not from us!). Our 5th grader says that she is the only one without a phone in her class, and our 7th grader certainly is-- still, they are ok. They have friends, they are happy in school, and they don't have to deal with the mean texts that seem to crop up among their friend groups- yet anyway. We support the 'wait till 8th'. Thank you for all of the great information and weekly posts!

When you say "cell phone" do you mean a phone with cellular service (ie talk and data)? My elementary children have hand-me-down iPhones but no cellular service, so a glorified iPod Touch. I don't consider this a Cell Phone and I hope you don't either. It's either a really small iPad or an iPod Touch. I really wish more parents would hold off on giving their kids true "cell phones" until 8th grade, but that will never happen, unfortunately.

I started wait until 8th with my son’s 3rd grade last year and 30% of parents signed the pledge. I wish I could get more schools on board.

Would like more info on the 8th grade pledge available to younger families so the conversations can begin well before the decision point of buying a phone or not.

5th grade most children have phones in our neighborhood

My 6th grader doesn't have one yet. When she turns 12 we will get her one, but will not allow any social media. I want her to be able to communicate with her friends, but am apprehensive, even at 12. We will do the same for our younger daughter, who is in 2nd grade. No way are elementary age kids ready.

I think phones should be banned in school from K to 8th grade and from classrooms in high school.

Way too early. There is a student in my son's 5th grade class who has a phone but it is to monitor his blood glucose because he has diabetes. That said, all the kids have school-issued iPads, which they use for non-school activities like games and YouTube, which is frustrating to me and to a lot of other parents. We don't give our kids devices, but the school does. Makes zero sense.

I am seeing a rise in young children(1st grade) with watches they can use as phones.

My grade 5 son has an iPhone but it has no plan so he uses it as an iPod. Not sure if this meets your definition of a cell phone.

I do not believe a child in elementary needs a cell phone. My 4th grade child only has one friend with a cell phone (an iPhone X) which I guarantee is not being used to make phone calls. As a parent, I work hard to limit screen time usage, so it is upsetting to know that friends have cell phones for using the internet, playing video games, and having social media content at their fingertips without parental supervision. At the appropriate time (middle school), I will get my child a cell phone, but it will ONLY be a cell phone for the purpose of making calls or texts.

we are learning about Wait till 8th and will be attending a seminar this week at our school. It will help if all her friends can wait till 8th grade to get a cell phone.

my child probably will be getting a cell phone for 6th grade/ middle school as she needs to take the bus I need to know when she gets at home.

I don't think they are a good idea. My 5th grade girl gets distracted enough just with her friends. She of course wants one though. We are trying to hold off as long as possible. And we just started having TTT or anyday.

All students at my child's district are provided with an iPad. Students in grades 5-12 are allowed to take them home with them. Grades K-4 leave them at school.

My third grader got an ipad in 2nd grade. Worst decision ever as a parent. Once it died I replaced it with a microsoft surface which is not much better but

Our school board has just placed a ban on kids using cell phones in class. Grade 6-8 kids are allowed to bring their phones out at nutrition breaks only. I like this decision as the kids were very distraced by their phones. Ontario, Canada

The cultural expectation in our town is at completion of 5th grade (before middle school) the child gets a phone :(

As a parent I have watched cell phones ruin friendships as early as 3rd grade. They find out that there friend is at another friend's house, and didn't invite them, so they send mean texts. Then the other sends them back. Now they aren't friends. I am also an elementary school teacher. I don't allow phone use in the classroom. I cannot trust where kids will go and what apps they have that are safe.

Phones for elementary kids are not necessary. The office can relay messages to children. My middle schooler (6th grade) also does not have one.

My daughter in grade 7 also does not have one. I feel all schools should have mandatory wifi scramblers so that children with data plans cannot look up whatever they want. I also feel cell phones should not be allowed in classrooms at any age.

I'm surprised that I do know kids in third grade who have cell phones

For most elementary kids there is rarely a time when they are alone on their own and would need to contact someone or be contacted. That seems to start about 5th grade, but in our district that is considered intermediate school.

Oldest child is in middle school. By 5th grade kids would get out of class and pull out their phones to play fortnight, show a friend a video or selfie or text (a parent to arrange a pick up?). Surprised at how many older elementary kids had phones. Group texts caused a lot of hurt and the teacher had to address it even though the hurt feelings happened outside of school because it was affecting what was happening inside the classroom. Sigh. Thankful that my child and closest friends didn't have phones.

It’s not phones at elementary school for the most part; kids do have access to an iPad, old iPod and/or inactivated iPhone to talk to their friends around the 4th grade but usually not brought to school. Now, 6th grade is a whole other story...way tooooo many kids have their own cell phone.

Our school is 4-8. We have taken a step back and are not allowing cell phone usage even in the 7-8 grades. There is NO reason for younger children to have a phone.

Our philosophy is to ease kids into technological connectivity. He’ll get a flip phone when he’s in grade 6. A smartphone will be considered in grade 7. Right now, he has an iPad for entertainment and for limited amounts of time each day (20 mins on weekdays).

I have seen way too many in the 5th grade especially, some even have smart watches!

Cell phones could be helpful if your child(ren) walk to/from home on their own. The office staff can communicate any messages to the kids. I don’t want my child thinking about checking his/her phone when they need to be present for learning. I hear phones going off in backpack hallways all the time and the grade levels who own them are getting younger. I hear the Apple Watch is a better option where parents can control the numbers their children can use. No games. No camera just messages for important info. Kids can play cards on the bus, read, not necessary at this young age.

My child is one of the only one in 5th grade without a phone but I'm pleased that her current K-5 school doesn't allow them in the classroom so there hasn't been a huge difference while at school. After school and on the weekends, the pressure is much greater.

There were 5 th grade boys that showed other kids how to access porn. My friend's daughter got addicted to it.

I’ve seen kids as young as third grade having cell phones at school

I am an elementary librarian, and am continually shocked at not only how many of our kids have their OWN cell phone, but also social media accounts. We do the online/internet safety lessons through the library. I wonder sometimes if they're answering 'yes' due to peer pressure to look cool. i.e.: they don't REALLY have their own TikTok or Instagram account, but because their friend raised their hand, they're going to raise their own hand. As a parent, we have a 'half way through 6th grade' rule for cell phones.

It was interesting that you are asking this question. Please share the results in your newsletter. I fight and literally just had a conversation with my husband. Our fifth-grade child asked dad why she could not bring her cell phone to school. Our child told dad everyone has it. My husband can hardly believe that. Then my husband asked do your classmates pull it out in class. Our child answered no. So my husband said, you do not need it then.

My older children each received their first cell phones mid way through their sixth grade year. They both have been one, if not, the last to get a phone. My fourth grade twin boys have a handful of friends that already have cell phones.

In our schools, the more disadvantaged kids get cell phones first. It seems like the more educated the parents, the later the kids are allowed to get phones. The rule in our house is day or two before 9th grade begins. My older kids were some of the last to get a phone. They do have access to a tablet and laptop at home.

I think that smartphones should be banned from elementary schools! In my opinion, kids shouldn’t be given a smartphone until at least 8th grade.

the school has issued chromebooks to all students grades 2-5. we think this is a bit overboard. in the case of cell phone usage, its going to become harder and harder to curb that tendency. there is no reason a elementary school age child should have their own cell phone, in my opinion.

My kids go to a Waldorf school so there’s somewhat less pressure to get a cell phone until about 8th grade. I’m a therapist in private practice who sees a lot of children and I am astonished at the extent of screen use in school. I can’t believe it’s a thing. From iPads in the recess room instead of going outside to lots of YouTube access to using smartphones during class.

anything before 5th grade seems too young...

Kids in elementary school do not need cell phones. By giving a child a cellphone (smartphone especially), you are beginning to inculcate them into the world of being attached to a screen. I have decided to give my 6th grade a stripped down smartphone (he only has texting and calling) and I am watching his phone behavior which is really only around his texting which comes and goes. On one hand he shows an age appropriate need to be private about his texting (even though he knows I read his texts), and I want to promote his need to separate and be more independent socially. On the other hand, I see that the phone is now a part of his routine...picking it up, bringing it with him on his walk to school, and forgetting to put it down when it is time to be face to face with us, friends, etc. But in elementary school, kids need to strengthen their in person, face to face experiences with peers and adults.

We purchased an iTouch for our daughter, but feel like we could have waited another year. There’s no educational reason for her to have it in 4th grade/10 years old....

We felt as a family that having a phone in elementary school was not necessary. Our family rule is not until middle school, and then only if it’s earned through solid behavior (at home, school, community) and solid grades.

Interestingly when my oldest daughter was in fifth grade many of her friends received iPhones for Christmas. Whereas I am not aware of any of my current 5th graders’ classmates having phones. I think our community has recognized that is too early (and expensive!!) and is making changes.

On one hand, I feel elementary school children do not need cell phones and should not have them. On the other hand, in today's day and age, it's difficult to deprive that a child from having direct communication with their parent(s). But I personally still stand my ground with my child that he does not need a cell phone until they go into middle School (My oldest child did not get a cell phone until 7th grade & had very strict restrictions). This is just my opinion & what I do.

My 5th graded is my youngest child. She has 5 brothers—aged 23, 20, 18, and 16 yo twins. My boys did not get cell phones until 7 or 8th grade and I intend to do the same with her. I do not like what the kids can access online with the phones. I remember my own childhood being outside after school with my friends playing at the playground. I wish I could provide her with the same experience but she is busy after school with drama club and we live on a street with no other schoolaged children. I really wish also that the schools weren’t so reliant on technology.

I’m totally against it. She’s only received a hand me down device that’s WiFi only for games in the house. She has a middle school brother otherwise she wouldn’t have a device until 6th grade like he did. :-/ sigh