Should I Let My Child Have a Phone?*

Mobile phones are a great way to keep in touch anytime and anywhere. But when is the right time to let your child have one?

Dover College have put together this helpful guide to help you decide when is an appropriate time to buy your child their first phone…

When is the right age?
There isn’t a legal age at which children are allowed a phone. The right age to give your child their first mobile phone is really up to you as parents. The most important questions to consider are do they really need a phone? And are they mature enough to look after one and use it sensibly?

It is common for parents to wait until their children start secondary school, at the age of 11 or 12, before they let them have their own phone. At this age, children begin to make their own journeys to and from school, and may wish to visit friends in their spare time.

Which phone?
If you are considering purchasing your child’s first phone, a basic ‘feature’ phone could be a great place to start. These will allow your child to call or text, without the risk of browsing the web unsupervised. Feature phones are also a cheaper alternative to a smart phone, which means less worry about it becoming lost or damaged.

If you decide to go for a smartphone, you will have the advantage of the latest GPS technology. This will allow you to monitor your child’s whereabouts using a location tracker app. This useful feature will not only contribute towards your child’s safety, but it can even help you to locate your child’s smartphone if it is lost or stolen.

Setting rules
Make sure your children understand the importance of using their phones safely and responsibly.
You can set up their phone so that they have all of the contacts they need in case of an emergency.

If you are going to allow internet usage, then be sure to add any necessary parental controls and set rules with your child about their phone and internet use.