The right age to give children their first cell phone really depends on you (parents/guardians). Psychologists say that age is not as important as your child's maturity level, ability to follow rules at home and school and sense of responsibility as well as family needs.
Jerry Bubrick, a clinical psychologist and anxiety expert at the Child Mind Institute, says parents with children between the ages of 10 and 12 often ask this question.
"I tell parents it's not so much about a certain age, but about a child's social awareness and understanding of what technology means," explains Dr. Bubrick. "You can have a really immature 15-year-old and a really socially mature 12-year-old who can handle a phone better."
Giving your child their first phone is a very personal and individual decision, but many children start asking for (and getting) them as early as elementary school. This kind of peer pressure makes it harder for parents who want to keep their kids away from smartphones.
When you give your kids a cell phone, you're giving them a powerful tool for communication and media production. They can create text, images and videos that can be uploaded to websites instantly and shared widely. Parents and guardians should consider whether their children are ready to use the phone responsibly and respectfully.
If you think your children's technology skills are greater than their ability to use it wisely, pay attention to this gap. You may need to say, "No, not yet."
Here are some questions to consider:
- Do your children show a sense of responsibility, such as letting you know when they leave the house? Do they come home when they say you will?
- Do your kids tend to lose things, such as backpacks or homework folders? If so, expect them to lose the phone as well.
- Do your children need to be in contact with you for safety reasons?
- Would they benefit from easy access to friends for social reasons?
- Do you think they will use their cell phones responsibly -- for example, not texting during class or disturbing others with their phone conversations?
- Can they stick to the limits you set on when, where and how long they can use the phone?
- Will they use text, photo and video functions responsibly and not to embarrass or harass others?
Source: Child Mind Institute, Common Sense Media
