• My son's school practically expects all kids to have a cellphone. • But I don't want my 11-year-old son to have one — even though I'm addicted to mine. • I feel pressure all around to get him a phone, but I want him to enjoy his childhood.

Recently, my son's middle school offered a reward for perfect attendance: a bus trip to Los Angeles for a Clippers game, leaving immediately after school. I wanted to send him a little money for dinner. But because the arena is cashless, the school advised parents to load money on the students' smartphones instead.

It's just one example of something that happens constantly now. After-school plans live in group texts. Coaches send pickup details through apps. Teachers rely on messaging platforms as the primary mode of communication. The assumption

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