What age should kids get a phone?

Many kids are ready for a phone by age 13, but this decision really boils down to your child’s maturity and the phone’s necessity. We’ll walk you through some important considerations, the range of phones and smartwatches for kids, and some tips for controlling screen time. 

Many children are ready for a phone at an average age of 12 or 13, but there's no hard and fast rule. Here are some signs they may be ready for their first phone.

Your kids probably stay home alone, walk to friends’ houses by themselves, or attend after-school activities around the ages of 12–13. A mobile phone is perfect for emergencies and pick-up requests.

No, we’re not saying you should social media companies you how you parent. But social networks are some of the earliest birthday-contingent milestones your kid gets to look forward to, and they’re probably excited. If your child hasn’t delivered a persuasive speech yet about why they need to join Snapchat or Instagram, get ready.

According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, 46% of kids aged 6 to 13 have regular access to a mobile phone, with 33% actually owning one themselves.

This means you need a game plan for the inevitable, “But everyone has a phone!” argument coming your way. As tempting as it is to turn this into a lesson about individuality and not caving to peer pressure, think about it from your kid’s perspective. 

It’s not fun to be the one who is left out of plans formed via text or who doesn’t have the same socialisation or media outlets as everyone else. 

Some kids are ready for a mobile phone around the age of 9. They’re in year three or four and might be venturing out into the neighbourhood with friends, walking or riding their bike to school, or getting dropped off at activities for the first time. 

If they tumble off the bike on their way home, discover soccer practice was cancelled after you drove off, or get in a pickle with their friends, you’re just a phone call away. Since kiddos this young tend to lose things and don’t have the biggest pockets, consider a wearable kids smartwatch or an inexpensive phone.

Children younger than 9 can also wear a smartwatch, but a simpler mobile device might be even better. Kids GPS trackers have SOS buttons to quickly reach parents, and the built-in location tracker tells you where they are, even if they don’t have a clue.  

To set your kid up for success, make sure they show a certain level of maturity and responsibility before letting them have a phone. Here are some signs they may not be ready quite yet.

Phones aren’t cheap. If your kid is constantly losing or destroying things, their phone won’t last long. Consider having your child save up for an affordable feature phone (a.k.a. "dumb" phone) and see how it goes. Let them know it’s a test run and that responsibility will earn them a chance to have a smartphone.

If they’re already struggling to step away from the TV or computer to take care of homework, hygiene, or household chores, adding a phone won’t help. Help them balance their screen time with parental controls or with a strict “one hour of homework first” policy. 

Giving them a device that lets anyone talk to them at any time is a recipe for disaster since the bullying is likely to get worse when there’s no one observing it. 

But at the same time, your child shouldn’t be punished for other kids’ rude behaviour. You don’t necessarily need to delay getting them a phone, but do approach this purchase with caution.

For younger kids, start with a device—like a kids smartwatch—that gives you full control over their contact list. For kids age 13 and up, use a parental control app that lets you snoop on every message and/or sends you cyberbullying alerts.

You have three different options for your child’s first phone.

A kids smartwatch has canned text message responses, no internet access, and a contact list set up by you, the parent. It’s an ideal choice for kids younger than 12 who need a way to contact you, whether it’s to let you know that practice is over or that they missed their bus.

A feature phone (also called a "dumb" phone) is kind of like that old Nokia 3210 you had back in the day. It can make calls and send texts (and maybe play a bit of Snake), but not much else. You can choose models that do or don’t connect to the internet and social media, depending on how you want your kid to use the phone.

Finally, you can opt for a true smartphone. We recommend choosing an Android phone instead of an iPhone since parental control apps have greater functionality on Android phones. Apple enacts strict privacy rules that hinder parental controls. 

Communicate that you trust them to use it responsibly. They need to maintain your trust through responsible use.

Don’t wait for your child to have a problem before limiting their phone usage. Without guidance from you, they’re at significant risk of smartphone addiction. Side effects include poor sleep, poor academic performance, strained parent/child relationships, and increased anxiety/depression. 

Try these techniques for keeping a close watch on your child’s screen time:

• Require the phone to be charged overnight. Keep the charger in the kitchen (or anywhere but your child’s bedroom). Use a lockable charge box if your kid can’t resist temptation.
• Create “phone-free zones.” The dining-room table is an excellent example. 
• Designate “phone-free times.” This could be a strict time period (phones off and on the charger by 8 p.m.) or something along the lines of, “phones must be put away while walking.” Parental control apps help you enforce this with “quiet mode.”
• Have alternative activities at the ready for phone-free moments. Whether you break out board games, jigsaw puzzles, colouring books, hopscotch, paints and canvas, grandma’s favourite cookie recipe, or the dog’s leash, it’s your job to set up non-screen activity structures for your kid.
• Lead by example. Kids are super observant and will definitely call you out on your double standard if they catch you mindlessly scrolling through Facebook at the dinner table. Follow your own rules and demonstrate healthy smartphone habits. 

This is a formal agreement between you and your kid that covers expectations, responsibilities, and consequences. Lay down all the ground rules about screen time, passwords, message content, internet usage, parental surveillance, and even monthly bill payment (e.g., do they pay overages?). Type it up, print it out, and sign it together.