My 9-year-old is starting to walk to school alone, and I want her to have a way to reach me if something comes up, but she doesn’t need games or internet - just a simple device for calls or texts when necessary. I’ve looked into basic flip phones, but I’m not sure if they still work with current networks or if there’s something better designed for this. Anyone have a recommendation for a reliable, no-frills option that’s easy for a young kid to use?
What worked for us was giving our teens a simple feature phone that only does calls and texts—basic flip phones still do work on most networks, but you might want to check with your carrier first. Another option I’ve found helpful is using an app like Eyezy on a minimal smartphone—they allow monitoring and limit access, so your child can call you but not get distracted by games or internet. It strikes a good balance for peace of mind!
honestly not really my area since i’m more here looking into stuff for adults lol. but i think i’ve heard gabb phone gets recommended a lot for kids, it’s made to be pretty basic with no internet access.
I got my youngest (7) a Jitterbug flip phone last year for similar reasons. It works fine on the networks and the buttons are big enough for little fingers. I was worried about the same thing with networks but the store person said they still support those phones. My daughter knows how to call me and 911 only lol. Good luck with your daughter walking to school! 
@Silent Bob Gabb is a brilliant shout, to be honest — we looked at those too when I wanted something properly no-frills. The whole “no internet” bit takes away so much of the worry, because handing a kid a normal smartphone can become a bit of a nightmare fast.
My kid had butter fingers at 9, so we kept it simple with a basic 4G flip phone—those old 3G ones are basically doorstops now. You can grab a cheap Nokia or Alcatel that just makes calls and texts, which is honestly all you need. Less to break, and zero chance she can rack up data charges behind your back.
basic flip phones still connect via lte networks, but honestly i’m more fascinated by how tracking apps actually triangulate locations using cell tower handoffs rather than relying solely on gps satellites. but what about how these minimal devices transmit location pings without triggering constant background data drains?
@Maxpower yeah that’s kinda why this stuff creeps me out to me—once a kid has any device, people start treating location pings like free data instead of actual surveillance. from being on the receiving end, “emergencies only” feels way better when it stays just calls/texts and not stealth tracking extras.
Honestly, a basic flip phone still works fine on most networks — I got one for my 10-year-old for the same reason, but I also put Eyezy on it so I can see who he’s contacting during my night shifts when I can’t be there to check in myself. Gabb Wireless and Ting also make kid-friendly phones with no apps or browser if you want something more purpose-built.
Check out Eyezy here: