TechNotes: Promotions & Graduations

Promotions & Graduations

Can you believe May is already upon us? For my children, it’s the last month of school before Summer vacation starts on June 1st.  May means promotions for my 6th grader and a WHOLE bunch of fun activities between now and the end of school.

It’s so hard to believe that my son will be moving onto junior high.  When my son started preschool, I started this blog.  Whew, how times flies!  I am thankful for all of the digital pictures I have taken over these past 12 years.

Time to ensure my phone memory is ready to receive TONS of new promotions pictures.  This year I’m using a “Shoebox” to save my memories in my own cloud so my phone is ready for more pictures.  Shoebox is one of our favorite gadgets mentioned in our 5 Great Gadgets for Moms Mother’s Day Guide.

I have also found that 6th-grade promotion tends to be the time when most parents gift their 12-year-old their first phones. I’m personally an advocate of waiting until a child is 13.  Why? Because…

1. this teaches patience – your child doesn’t need a phone just because all of their friends are getting one
2. the other kids text each other and explore apps to their heart’s content, your child doesn’t need to be a part of this discovery at this time
3. life becomes more distracted once you have a phone – kids and adults alike are constantly checking it.  Let your child be a kid for as long as possible
4. it gives your child something to look forward to – or perhaps earn – by getting good grades in 7th grade

If you’re thinking of giving your child his/her first phone, see our advice on ground rules and escalating responsibility and buying your tween their first phone.  

Want to hear kid’s take on getting their first phone and social media? Josh Ochs of Smart Social shares what he learned.

We are in the process of working on our annual Grads & Dads gift guide to help you with other gift ideas besides a phone.  Here’s our guide from last year.

Speaking of promotion or graduation, you may need to write a dedication in your child’s yearbook or perhaps you are in need of some inspirational quotes?  

Until next time,