Are you unsure about giving your child their first cell phone? Find out the ideal age for this!
Cell phones are becoming increasingly common in our daily lives and their use is starting at an increasingly early age. Many parents are giving these devices to children and pre-teens, often without any control over the amount of time they use them or the content they access.
If you have children and are always wondering at what age they should have a cell phone, there is no clear answer to this question, as each child develops at a different pace, has their own personalities and challenges. As a result, parents and guardians need to have different ideas about what is appropriate and what is not for their families.
Continue reading and learn more about this topic now!
Ideal age to have your first cell phone
You are the one who will decide the ideal age for your child to have their first cell phone. They may be ready for it between the ages of 10 and 14, or as early as high school, depending on their development. You can start thinking about it when they are in the sixth grade of elementary school, between the ages of 10 and 11.
You may want to give him a newer phone if he needs to travel to certain places on his own, or if he needs to split his time between different homes. If you notice that he is not ready in terms of development, responsibility, or even the fact that the phone could aggravate existing problems, you may want to wait a little longer.
Also, you don’t have to start with a fancy, state-of-the-art phone. A good phone or a more common one can help your child take on the responsibility of owning their own smartphone, so consider buying a high-end option. low cost, before investing in a more premium model.
Even if parents choose not to give a cell phone to a younger child, it is important that they talk about technology and the internet, as at some point they will be exposed to cell phones and the internet somewhere, including at school.
Previously, experts suggested waiting until the age of 14 to give a child their first cell phone. However, for many, this no longer makes sense, due to the pandemic and the acceleration of technology in schools, among groups of friends and even in their own homes.
Do children need phones?
Many parents grew up without access to technology and may wonder why their children should use a cell phone. However, it may be necessary, especially if they use public transportation, walk, spend a lot of time at home alone, or are starting to make plans with friends and other activities that require coordination.
Furthermore, in the case of pre-teens and teenagers, cell phones are important for them to feel included in social circles. This socialization can happen through chats, games, group messages, and others. The internet can also help with face-to-face socialization, since they can use their cell phones to plan outings and meet ups with friends. In these cases, parents can also monitor their children through their cell phones, with calls and messages, and thus be less worried.
It is also important that parents impose limits in relation to the time of use and content accessed, to ensure that they will also continue to develop in other parts of life, as studies, homework and offline activities.
