Does An 11 Year Old Need A Cell Phone

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What Age Should Kids Become a Phone?

Staff Writer, Safety & Security

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

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What is a good age to become a phone?

Many children are ready for a phone at an average age of 12 or 13.

They're starting to get more independent

Your kids probably stay habitation solitary, walk to friends' houses past themselves, or attend later-school activities around the ages of 12–thirteen. A jail cell phone is perfect for emergencies and selection-up requests.

They're legally allowed on social media by age thirteen

No, we're not saying you should let the regime tell you how you parent. But social media is one of the earliest birthday-contingent milestones your kid gets to look frontward to, and they're probably excited. If your child hasn't delivered a persuasive speech yet almost why they need to join Snapchat or Instagram, get ready.

Their friends are about to get phones too

According to the Pew Research Center, most parents (45%) think information technology's acceptable for kids to have a phone between the ages of 12 and xiv.¹ About 28% of parents wait until ages 15 to 17, and sixteen% call back it'due south fine to permit kids as immature as ix have their own phones. Other surveys show similar results.^2,iii

This means you demand a game program for the inevitable, "But everyone has a phone!" argument coming your style. As tempting as it is to turn this into a lesson well-nigh individuality and not caving to peer pressure level, think about information technology from your child's perspective.

Information technology's not fun to be the i who is left out of plans formed via text or who doesn't accept the aforementioned socialization or media outlets equally everyone else.

When should I get a phone for a kid younger than 12?

Some kids are ready for a mobile telephone effectually the historic period of 9. They're in tertiary or fourth grade and might exist venturing out into the neighborhood with friends, walking or riding their bike to school, or getting dropped off at activities for the first time.

If they tumble off the cycle on their way domicile, notice practice was canceled subsequently yous collection off (true story), or go in a pickle with their friends, you're simply a telephone call away. Since kiddos this young tend to lose things and don't take the biggest pockets, consider a wearable smartwatch or an inexpensive flip phone like the Jitterbug.

Children younger than 9 tin can also vesture a smartwatch, but a simpler mobile device might be fifty-fifty meliorate. Kids GPS trackers have SOS buttons to apace reach parents, and the built-in location tracker tells you where they are, fifty-fifty if they don't have a clue.

When should I wait to get my kid a phone?

To set your kid up for success, make sure they show a certain level of maturity and responsibility earlier letting them have a phone.

Your child can't go along rail of their things

Phones aren't cheap. If your kid is constantly losing or destroying things, their phone won't concluding long. Consider having your child save upwardly for an affordable flip phone and see how it goes. Let them know it'due south a test run and that responsibility will earn them a chance to take a smartphone.

Your child is already distracted by screens

If they're already struggling to footstep away from the TV or computer to take care of homework, hygiene, or household chores, adding a telephone won't help. Help them balance their screen time with parental controls or with a strict "one hr of homework starting time" policy.

Your child is already getting bullied or being a bully

Giving them a device that lets anyone talk to them at any fourth dimension is a recipe for disaster since the bullying is likely to get worse when at that place's no i observing it.

But at the same fourth dimension, your child shouldn't be punished for other kids' rude behavior. You don't necessarily need to delay getting them a phone, but practice approach this buy with caution.

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

How practise I choose a phone for my child?

You accept iii different options for your child's first phone.

Kids smartwatch

A kids smartwatch has canned text message responses, no cyberspace admission, and a contact list set up by you, the parent. It's an platonic choice for kids younger than 12 who demand a way to contact you, whether it's to allow you know that practice is over or that they missed their bus.

Phone designed for kids

A kids telephone offers a little more liberty and looks just like a smartphone, but without the ability to download apps without approving or visit any website. You tin can choose models that practice or don't connect to the net and social media, depending on how you want your child to employ the phone.

Truthful smartphone

Finally, yous tin can opt for a true smartphone. Nosotros 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.

How exercise I talk to my kid about using their phone responsibly?

Let them know why they've earned this privilege

Communicate that y'all trust them to use it responsibly. They need to maintain your trust through responsible apply.

Limit screen time from twenty-four hours one

Don't wait for your child to take a trouble before limiting their phone usage. Without guidance from you lot, they're at meaning run a risk of smartphone addiction.⁴ Side effects include poor sleep, poor bookish performance, strained parent/child relationships, and increased anxiety/depression.

Try these techniques for keeping a close picket on your child's screen time:

Require the telephone to be charged overnight. Go on the charger in the kitchen (or anywhere merely your child's bedroom). Use a lockable charge box if your kid tin can't resist temptation.
Create "phone-free zones." The dining-room table is an fantabulous case.
Designate "phone-complimentary times." This could exist a strict fourth dimension 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 yous enforce this with "quiet mode."
Accept culling activities at the ready for phone-free moments. Whether you break out board games, jigsaw puzzles, multifariousness puzzle books, bocce ball, croquet, paints and canvass, grandma'southward favorite cookie recipe, or the dog'southward leash, information technology's your task to gear up up non-screen activity structures for your child.
Lead by case. Kids are super observant and will definitely call you out on your double standard if they catch yous mindlessly scrolling through Facebook at the dinner tabular array. Follow your own rules and demonstrate salubrious smartphone habits.

Prepare a "phone contract"

This is a formal understanding between you lot and your child that covers expectations, responsibilities, and consequences. Lay downward all the basis rules nigh screen time, passwords, bulletin content, internet usage, parental surveillance, and even monthly bill payment (east.g., practise they pay overages?). Type it upward, print it out, and sign it together.

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Sources

Brooke Auxier, Pew Research Center, "Parenting Kids in the Age of Screens," July 2020. Accessed September ix, 2021.
SellCell, "Kids Jail cell Phone Use Survey 2019," July 2019. Accessed September nine, 2021.
Panda Security, "When Should Kids Get Smartphones? (Survey)," June 2019. Accessed September 9, 2021.
Sei Yon Sohn, BioMed Central, " Prevalence of Problematic Smartphone Usage and Associated Mental Wellness Outcomes Amongst Children and Immature People: A Systematic Review, Meta-Assay and GRADE of the Evidence ," November 2019. Accessed September ix, 2021.

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Written by

Cathy Habas

With over vii years of experience equally a content author, Cathy has a knack for untangling circuitous information. Her natural curiosity and ability to empathize assist Cathy offer insightful, friendly advice. She believes in empowering readers who may not feel confident about a purchase, project, or topic. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and began her professional writing career immediately after graduation. She has contributed to sites like Safety.com, Reviews.com, Crouch, and Thumbtack. Cathy's pride and joy is her Appaloosa "Chacos." She also likes to crochet while watching stand-upward comedy specials on Netflix.