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I am considering buying a smartphone for my DS... He's 12.

He's had a regular cheapie cell phone since he was 11 and starting 6th grade. He is responsible enough, he hasn't lost it or anything...

So, what should I look at?

Needs to be on Verizon...

Samsung Y Galaxy S-5360 would be my punt.

Has all the tricks a young guy would want- not expensive and durable.

Great little phone!

Thanks... I'll go look at it.

Just asking. My kids are 17 and they still don't have a smart phone. Neither to I. Why dies he need a smart phone?

Need? I don't think this as a NEED...

It's a WANT... He wants one... I am ok with him having one.

I'm asking for advice on which one would be easy to use and suitable for a young kid.

I have a smartphone, I have a Blackberry, that I like. It's an option for him... but I'd like to get something that has a better App market, like Android or Window.

I don't want to get him an iPhone tho... (go figure, since I'm a Mac person)

My 14 year old DS is asking for the Galaxy.

I have an Apple hating friend who also has the galaxy so I would think that could be a good bet.

I still like her. Even though we are a mac family. (except DS)

But I do think it's the preferred alternative to the iPhone.

Any decent android. My 10 and 12 year olds have a windows and an android phone. The one with the windows phone has trouble getting onto all the little apps that are popular with kids.

It is a want, until they have one, then it's a need for the parent. It is our communication line with our kids. If they forget something at home they'll send a message. If we need them to ride the bus home, we send a message. During pickup they ask exactly where we are so we don't have to wait. In class, many of their teachers will allow them to use phones to do research for papers and things like that.

In class, many of their teachers will allow them to use phones to do research for papers and things like that.

I think this is one of my son's main reasons for asking. His teachers will tell kids that if they have smartphones they can start doing research on them. They have limited numbers of computers for the kids to use.

I work in the school district that my son attends... so I know he's not blowing smoke up my ass. I've talked to his teachers and others in other schools... this is the new SOP.

Obviously, he can wait until he gets home to research, but since he's got a crap ton of other homework, I can only see the smartphone at school research as a good thing.

I just have to decide which phone... I guess I need a big screen for easy use...

One other good thing is that at school and at home and his Dad's house he can use wifi and not have to worry about going over his data allowance.

12 is an appropriate age for a smart phone, and I would NOT recommend the Iphone. I had blackberries for both kids until they were due for new ones, and even with the super cases on the I phone my son has broken his twice.

There are some great apps for keeping organized, and getting homework assignments written down, and home.

We do have both phones set up to BCC us on any emails/posts they make on FB, and email.

Now that both are in HS the teachers actually encourage them to have tablets, and require them to have a special email account so they can get updates, emails, and reminders for certain things.

I had a mobile when I was 12- smartphones hadn't been invented but if they had been- I'd have wanted one

That one I recommended is great for kids- easy to use, looks cool and Google Play- what more could he want!

I don't have a smartphone and my husband doesn't either. You would laugh hysterically if you saw our phones. However, our older kids have iPhones and seem to like them.

My daughter dropped her phone (with otterbox) while getting out of our van one morning and I ran it over before leaving the parking lot. Definitely would not have a smartphone without a strong case!

I got my son an iPhone for his 11th birthday. It was the ONLY thing he wanted.

It was not a mistake. He treated it so well. He's now 17, and has only has ONE cracked screen in all the years he's had an iPhone. There have been some upgrades along the way, always for bday or Christmas or another big occasion.

I don't know what's Verizon compatible. I do know that you can get good insurance and a great phone for a reasonable price.

(To those who ask why---I started with a kids' only Firefly phone in grade 3 because of busing to a remote school. It did not hold up well, and minutes were costly. I added him to our plan for financial reasons. When able to get him a cool phone that allowed him to keep his music library, etc, it was a treat for him. He has not abused it.)

ETA: While I've had a hand-me-down Blackberry for years, and that was just fine for me, I just got my first iPhone, and LOVE it. LOOOOVE it. So I totally get it now.

[This message edited by solus sto at 4:32 PM, October 14th (Monday)]

He does want an iPhone... but I'm reluctant ~ don't ask... I think I'd have better luck convincing FWSO that he needs this, if I steer clear of the iPhone.

One possible issue--the Galaxy phones are HUGE. I've had one for the past 2 years and it's uncomfortable for me to hold while talking--and I have man hands! Mine also drops calls like crazy (I don't know if it's me or the phone, though... )

He should try the Galaxy before you buy one. Motorola makes a mini--that might be an option if he doesn't like the Galaxy.

I worried about the size of the Galaxy too...

We're going to go to the store on Saturday and play with phones.

If it's for research wouldn't a tablet be better? They seem to be cheaper than the smartphones anymore, anyway.

Stillgoing... I'm looking for a device that can multi-task.

He leaves the house after I go to work and so I need to be able to keep in touch with him...

He texts me when he's up and leaves the house and gets on the bus.

So I want him to be able to text me, call if needed, and research all in once device.

Whatever you get, get one of those sturdy, indestructible cases for it. They need them since there are apparently random, bizarre things that happen to young teenager's phones.

Don't go with a Nokia/Windows Phone...they're from the debil!

I think you mean the Devil??? But, I'm not sure.