Should Kids Have Cell Phones?

What Age Should a Child Get a Cell Phone

Deciding whether to buy your child a phone is ultimately a personal choice. Consider your child’s maturity and communication needs rather than deciding based on a specific age limit. Some families may choose to wait until their child is a teenager, while others may give their kids phones at a young age if they need to communicate often. You’ll also need to decide between a basic cellphone for kids or a smartphone with internet access, which has its own pros and cons.

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Benefits of Cellphones for Kids

Cellphones or smartphones aren’t just a way for your kids to fit in with their peers—having a cellphone allows kids to build trust, learn responsibility, and stay safe in emergencies. Your child will have to be responsible for caring for their phone and staying within their data plan. More importantly, having a smartphone can help you locate your child during emergencies using location sharing. You’ll be able to communicate with your kids no matter where they are. For older kids who may spend more time away from home, having a phone can give you better peace of mind.

Disadvantages of Kids’ Cell Phones

You should consider the potential drawbacks before giving your child their own phone. The benefits may outweigh the negatives, but you should be fully informed before making the choice.

Cellphone Safety

Cellphones and smartphones can help keep your kids safe in an emergency, but they can also create new opportunities for danger. Having easy access to the internet and social media platforms can make them more susceptible to cyberbullying, online predators, and inappropriate content. Although you may be able to limit what websites and apps your child’s phone have access to, it’s impossible to monitor everything online. For older kids who have started driving, talking or texting while driving can be another safety concern. Providing guidelines and advice on how to avoid some of these risks can help your child make the right choices with their phone.

Health Concerns

For the most part, moderate cellphones or smartphone use doesn’t pose a health risk for kids. However, they often contribute to difficulty sleeping by distracting kids late at night. Getting adequate sleep is critical for your children’s health and growth. Not allowing phone use at night and keeping your child’s phone out of their bedroom when they go to sleep can help mitigate this problem.

Cost

Even if you can add your child’s phone to your phone plan, a phone can still be a significant cost. Smartphones cost hundreds of dollars and can be easily lost or broken. If your child goes over text or data limits or buys apps and music, the costs can start adding up. Talk to your kids about online purchases and consider getting insurance for their devices.

Phone Safety Rules

No matter what age you decide to give your child a phone, you should discuss expectations and rules for phone safety and etiquette. Depending on their age and maturity, you may have stricter rules for phone use.

Online Etiquette

Whether your child’s phone has internet access or not, you should give them guidance on navigating online etiquette and cyberbullying. Even basic cellphones for kids can open the doors to cyberbullying through text or call. Remind your kids to think before posting and only answer phone calls and texts from numbers they know. It’s important to build trust with your kids around phone use and make sure they know they can talk to you or another trusted adult if they see or experience cyberbullying.

Monitor Devices

For young kids, monitoring their phone use can help keep them safe from cyberbullying or online predators. Discuss with your kids what you’ll have access to and how you’ll monitor their devices. You might decide to give older kids more privacy with their phones, as constantly snooping on their texts and other online activity can break their trust.

Limit Phone Time

Constantly looking at social media or texting friends can distract your kids from school, activities, and family time. Agree on a set number of hours your child can use their phone during the day or week to limit screen time. It can also be helpful to create guidelines on when phones can’t be used, like during school or before bedtime.

Deciding when to give your child a cellphone or smartphone is a personal choice that should take several factors, including age and maturity, into account. No matter what age your child gets their first phone, it’s important to discuss how to stay safe online and use their phone appropriately.