Just a regular Joe.
What is the typing experience that you want, and for which language(s). It’s not clear to me, sorry.
It is possible to map keyboard input in various ways. For more complex use-cases, many programs support character substitution as you type (eg. gx could become ĝ automatically).
“Hold my unlocked phone while I chug this beer!”
《criminal mastermind journalist adds himself to confidential chat group》
Lock 'em up! Lock 'em up!
Meanwhile, the flu knocked everyone I know off their feet this year. Our last two covid bouts were mild knocks on wood.
Congrats for waiting this long - many parents don’t.
Honestly, this will depend on your child. If they are prone to addictive or obsessive behaviour, a smart phone will only amplify the tendancy. We already know how hard it is for adults to put down their phones for any length of time, and kids typically have less will power.
That said - digital communication is an important part of most people’s lives now. If all her friends are using a particular app to communicate, they will “need” it too. Some parental controls would be good for the first phone – which apps get installed, etc. Just be prepared to unlock most of them. ;-)
You might want a phone “lockbox” at home to ensure they turn off. Hopefully the school is strict about phone usage and etiquette too - it can help.