Comment by stevekemp

My child started walking to school, alone, at age seven. More importantly he'd start walking home from school in the afternoon a couple of hours before his parents were home.

Having a child be able to call you and say "I'm in the park", "I'm at my friends house", "Can I invite a friend over?" was very good for reassurance.

We still throw him out and say "Go to the park" on a weekend, safe in the knowledge that if we need to know where he is we can call and ask, or he can phone us to say he saw a friend and is going to their place, etc.

I don't love children having screen time, and we set a timer so he's not allowed unfettered access, but giving him a phone? Even a dumb phone? I think its a net positive.