What Age Should I Give My Child A Mobile Phone

Thinking of giving your child a mobile phone? You need to read this first.

Mobile phones are the must have accessory for children. Please can I have a mobile phone. I must have a mobile phone. All my friends have got mobile phones. Are phrases your going to hear a lot but giving a mobile phone is a big step.

Firstly lets talk about the impact of mobile phones on our children. Generally they've become more insular and inward looking. The phone is the gateway to their world. Friends, conversations entertainment exists online. Our children don't watch much TV and certainly not with us. The watch lots of videos. When their eating. walking, getting ready, travelling. If allowed they'd watch it all the time.

This creates a dis connect to the real world.

Friends exist on line. Entertainment exists on line. They don't need or want to go outside and do things. Difficult for parents who haven't grown up with phones to understand but that it their world. This creates dependency and anxiety. Take their phone away and its a trauma. This is a real problem and wide spread, 50% of Teenagers feel anxious without their phones

We definitely agree with this.

So your giving your child something very powerful and overpowering. Don't underestimate the power of phones.

Society is catching up but bans are coming into force. More than 90% of schools in England ban mobile phone use, survey shows



Phone use can be addictive and damaging. Not in all cases and many children can use mobile phones responsibly but the risk and threat is real 'Screens and adolescents: How phones broke children’s brains'

So the question is whether your child is responsible, equipped and able to have manage a mobile phone?

Firstly this is not a negative judgement on your child. Many adults suffer the same way. Many adults are susceptible to the negative impacts of phone usage so your conversation shouldn't be a negative judgement on your child but you have to consider your child's ability to manage a phone.

You must decide what age is right we'll share our experience.

Leave it as long as you can. We can't set an age but if your unsure leave it.  Be stubborn and don't give in.

If you have more than one child you need to consider the precedent being set by age.



Consider the Pros, contactable, communicate with friends, not being left out.

Another Blog? Adolescence | Every Parents Nightmare Consider the negatives.  See above and the first point. Leave it as long as you can.  If there ones thing we wished we'd have done is leave it a bit longer before giving them phones.

In terms of delaying age is just a number its about how your child manages and the impact on them. Don't get trapped by age meaning they're ready.

We didn't research enough the negatives and were a little naive around the isolating impact of a phone.  For us its not a phone its a smartscreen that occasionally is used as a phone.

Things to do before you give your child a mobile phone, our experience.

Research as much as you can.  Understand the risks. Build in safeguards.

Have an agreement on whats acceptable use and what isn't.  Make the child sign to agree.  Video them so there's no arguing.  Sounds mad but we wished we'd have done this rather than trying to do it afterwards.

Have a trial period.  this worked well for us.  If there not ready then take the phone back.

Very important.  You set up the phone.  You set the passwords etc.  Part of the agreement is they don't change passwords etc if they need to you need to be part o that.

Set controls on the phone.  The Best Parental Control Apps to Manage Screen Time (and Keep Your Kid Safer Online)

Set screen time limits

Monitor phone use.  Check their phone.  Its invading their privacy but its understanding what they are looking and and talking to. Imagine that have come across a suicide forum and are exploring it.  You would want to know.  'First Ofcom probe launched into suicide site exposed by BBC'

Limit and monitor WhatsApp and other communication tools.  So much potential for bullying and being bullied. Our parent WhatsApp groups are full of updates on arguements and frightening things going round childrens WhatsApp groups.  'Nine-year-olds added to malicious WhatsApp groups'

Set wifi controls.  Contact your provider and see what software and controls they offer.

Finally be vigilaint.  There is harm in keeping a watchful eye and monitoring even as they get older.  Its so easy to become complacent.  Bereaved parents whose children took own lives demand more access to content they were exposed to online

Click Here For More Great Blogs From Experienced Parents.

This article was written by a parent of three adopted children and so details or pictures cannot be shared but contact can be made through contact@cosychats.com

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