![]() ![]() Make this a discussion with your child, while knowing what your budgetary or feature limits are, so they can have some input in the big decision affecting their life.Ĭhoose starter apps: For a kid’s first device, you will want to limit what apps are installed, especially if they are under 13. Using something in the same ecosystem as your own phone means it is easier to set up and link accounts. Starting with a more limited device can act as training wheels and give them something to earn in the future with good phone behaviour. On the other hand, giving a high-schooler something made for a younger kid might embarrass them or make it difficult to do necessary tasks. Just because your 10-year-old needs to call home most days doesn’t mean they need an USD800 iPhone 14. ![]() It’s going to be the exciting stuff, like rule setting, parental controls and warnings about the darkest corners of the Internet.Ĭhoose a device: Your options include kid-specific phones, wearables, feature phones like the classic flip phone, your old smartphones and a range of new smartphones costing anywhere from USD200 to USD2,000. Q: What should you do before giving your child a phone?Ī: Some of the work should happen before the device is ever in your child’s hands. Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of First Phone, a guide for kids, recommends starting between 10 and 12 years old, when kids often are more receptive to an adult monitoring their usage and teaching them. Waiting doesn’t necessarily delay a child’s exposure to the Internet and social media.Īccording to the Pew Research Center, 95 per cent of teens between 13 and 17 report having access to a smartphone. Ultimately, the decision is up to the parent or guardian, who knows the child and their own child-rearing philosophy best. There is not one magic age for every child, but we’ll help you find the sweet spot for your own family. Q: At what age should a kid get their first phone?Ī: Anywhere from 10 to 14, though there are valid reasons to give a child a phone earlier (they commute alone, or switch between two parents’ houses) or later (they’re not mature enough, have shown previous problems with tech overuse). You want to give your children the skills they need to handle problems on their own, and build enough trust so they’ll know they can come to you with anything bigger. Your goal shouldn’t be to monitor everything they search online and every private conversation they have with friends. Be open to reassessing your rules and allowing more flexibility as they grow. Their needs, interests and issues will evolve as they age, and the adults in their life need to keep up. We will cover everything from the right age to buy a smartphone, to having difficult conversations about bullying, sexting and misinformation.Īt the centre of all our advice is the need to have open and continuing conversations with kids. ![]() We have made this guide for parents or guardians who want to be ready for that big moment, not stumble into it. As easy as it is to give your child more freedom, it can be a brutal battle to claw it back when they’re misusing it or showing signs of overuse. Unlike with a car – which comes with driving lessons, a learner’s permit and a big test to ensure road readiness – many parents buy the phone first, then try to teach their kids how to use it. For many, it’s now getting their first smartphone. THE WASHINGTON POST – The biggest milestone for teenagers used to be getting their driver’s licence, opening them up to a new world of freedom and danger. ![]()
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