3 Tips on When to Give Your Child a Cell Phone
There is no magical age when a kid is ready for this first smartphone, however a new study revealed that Louisiana parents give their children their first phone earlier than any other state in the U.S. followed by Florida.
Parents were surveyed in every state and asked everything from what rules and restrictions they have in place, why they think their child needs a smartphone and if they wished they had given it to them earlier or later in life.
Key takeaways:
- Parents in Florida give their children smartphones 2nd earliest in life with the average child getting theirs by age 9.
- Although Florida parents give their kids a smartphone by age 9 on average, they wish they would have waited until their child was 11.
- Nationally, 1 in 5 parents wish they had given their child a smartphone later than they had.
- For those parents who believe kids need smartphones, 95% cite wanting them to have it for an emergency followed by being able to communicate with their family (92%).
3 tips on When to Give Your Child a Cell Phone
Giving your kids a cellphone is a personal choice. When making a choice like this, know that there are tools out there to help you navigate this decision.
- Talk to their friends parents
- It is helpful to know what their group of friends have access to. Knowing the way other parents handle it will also give you some insight on the dynamics of your children’s friendships…. WHO has access to WHAT.
- Know the rules at school
- OCPS has a no phones policy, be sure to know the school rules.
- Have a meaningful conversation with your child
- Understand their needs and wants when it comes to a cell phone. Be open about the responsibility that comes along with it. Stand your ground on your decision as their parent, but include them on the “why” behind it.
From Orlando Mom Owner, Eryn (mom of 4):
Having 2 older children has taught me a lot. Due to our previous experience with teens and phones, we will not be allowing our younger 2 children to have access to a phone until they are much older. While our middle schooler has an iPhone, there is no phone line or access to the internet. The device is on an age lock and protected from access to everything unless we give it, even texts from people not in his contacts.
TOP TIP: This is YOUR child and YOUR decision. Do what is right for YOU! Do not let the peer pressure or society “norms” sway you. Stand your ground for YOUR family!
From Orlando Mom Contributor, Candace (mom of 3):
Giving a child or teen a phone all depends on the individual child and the parent. With that being said not every child or even teen can handle having a smart phone.
You will definitely need to be proactive rather than having to go back and try to correct a mistake that might be detrimental to their mental health or give them access to a situation or choice that could be dangerous.
TOP TIP: If you do decide to give them a phone, have strict parental controls and stick with them. Donโt be manipulated by society into thinking that your child must have a smart phone.
From Orlando Mom Executive Assistant, Allison (mom of 2):
My husband and I have always agreed that we would wait until our kids are of driving age before they get their own phones. The only scenario that I could foresee us bending for would be if one of the girls is in a travel sport or school activity that would require some additional coordination around pickup and drop off.
TOP TIP: The distraction at school, constant access to the internet and responsibility are all things that we want to take into account before we introduce their own phones into their lives.
From Orlando Mom Contributor, Dr. Kelly (mom of 2):
IF you choose to give your child a smart phone, or if they have friends with smart phones, be prepared, educate yourself, and start having conversations about sensitive topics (sex, puberty, alcohol and drug use, pornography, etc) so they do not find out or seek out information that is not accurate, not safe, and not in line with how you wanted your child to understand/learn those sensitive topics for the first time.
I think a lot of parents worry about what their child will do with their own cell phone, but we forget their friends, older siblings, and classmates might already have cell phones as their parents needed/chose for them to have them at various ages. So, advocating and teaching internet and online safety at every age is helpful!
TOP TIP: ADD this to the PHOTOS section of your Cell Phone Contract: I will TELL a parent or safe adult if someone DOES send me pictures of their private parts or other sensitive topic/embarrassing photos.
From Orlando Mom Editor, Kattie (mom of 4):
Itโs ok if after youโve given it to them you learn they canโt handle it, you can take it away.
TOP TIP: They donโt ever NEED a phone.
From Orlando Mom Contributor, Hailey:
I can’t remember the exact age I was when I got a cell phone, but I do know it was in my teenage years, I want to say 13 years old. Growing up, I took the bus to school while my parents were at work so it was strictly for communication purposes. It was more for peace of mind for my parents, as well as myself (I was a very paranoid child). I feel as if I was still able to have a normal childhood, regardless of having a phone. Back then, social media wasn’t as commonly used at is now, so I believe that would be hard to compare to kids now.
As for my own kids, I would most likely prefer that we have a different form of communication, not necessarily a smartphone, but being the anxious lady that I am, it is a dealbreaker for me not being able to communicate with my kids. For my own sanity, I would have to be able to communicate with them and have a way to get in touch with me in the event of emergencies.
The decision to give your child a smartphone is ultimately up to you as a parent.
Still, sometimes it is helpful to gain an idea of how other parents are handling certain situations . . . like when is the right age to give a child a new piece of technology. Ultimately, it is your choice!
To help you when you are ready, we have our FREE PRINTABLE Cell Phone Contract.
