FWIW we got my 8 year old a smart watch, and it's been great. We can text her and she can text us (and her older cousin) and we can call her and track her. Sh

FWIW we got my 8 year old a smart watch, and it's been great. We can text her and she can text us (and her older cousin) and we can call her and track her. She can't use social media or anything else, and I put one game on there for her (pong). Both she and her brother have access to our old phones and tablets with a curated list of games that at least vaguely teach you something. They get limited time on the devices. Rule number one is no screens when the sun is up, except on weekends. Also sometimes I let them play my S/NES emulators, which obviously have no internet access. I suspect she'll ask for a phone when she gets to middle school. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.