Why Parents Think Kids Need Phones

Do kids need phones? The short answer is yes. Check out these advantages of why you should consider a phone for your responsible child. - SahmReviews.com

Disclosure

With the holidays right here, I want to talk about something that is very likely on your child’s wish list regardless of their age: A phone. You may be hesitant to give them one but I’m going to tell you why you should consider it.

When I was growing up, we didn’t have mobile phones. We didn’t have pagers. We didn’t have anything. But we did have a teen phone line which offered my brothers and I the opportunity to sit on the phone with our friends to all hours of the night talking about anything, everything or nothing at all. When I went to college, we were just starting to see mobile phones. It wasn’t until I moved to California in my late 20s did I have my first phone and saw the unbelievable convenience it was. I also found comfort and peace of mind knowing I could phone for help in such a massive city.

But the reality is we aren’t living in the past. A phone isn’t simply about calling or messaging someone when you need help. It’s about being able to carry a calendar with you, look up something on the internet, learn a new language, update your grocery list or scan coupons at the store, text someone or in the farfetched chance, actually CALL someone.

Do kids need phones? The short answer is yes. Check out these advantages of why you should consider a phone for your responsible child. - SahmReviews.com

A survey conducted by U.S. Cellular in 2016 showed that parents begin letting their children use their smartphones or tablets at age eight. I think those results are a bit off. I’ve seen parents letting babies and toddlers use their phones while out and about and tablets while at home. Maybe what they were trying to say is that parents (on average) let children use their OWN phone or tablet at that age. With so many educational apps available for tablets and schools integrating devices into the curriculum, it only makes sense that kids have them younger and younger. There’s often the question about when kids should get their first phone. Participants in the survey said the average age for a child to get their first cellular phone is 13, down from 14 five years ago. If I were to survey friends on Facebook, that age would be much lower. We purchased Madison’s first phone when she was 11.

Do kids need phones? The short answer is yes. Check out these advantages of why you should consider a phone for your responsible child. - SahmReviews.com

For kids, having a phone means freedom and independence.

As with many of the people surveyed, safety is a key reason for getting a child their first phone. We’re more likely to let the kids do something on their own such as go roller or ice skating with friends or Trick-or-Treating without parents because we feel like the phone offers some sense of security. (And to be honest, I use my iPhone 7 Plus to track where they are.)

Do kids need phones? The short answer is yes. Check out these advantages of why you should consider a phone for your responsible child. - SahmReviews.com

For parents, a child having a phone is about safety and convenience.

However, the more astounding benefit has been the convenience it offers. We’re able to message the girls at school (or they can message us FROM school). The days of yelling out into the streets for our kids to come home are long gone. We message them to come home from the neighbor’s house. We add doctor appointments to the calendar and schedule family events. They aren’t in the dark about when to be where because the information is readily available. At the same time, they have their own calendars for scheduling school activities, sports practices, rehearsals and more.

Do kids need phones? The short answer is yes. Check out these advantages of why you should consider a phone for your responsible child. - SahmReviews.com

The key is to approach it responsibly. They don’t need the latest and greatest phone. Upgrade yours to an iPhone 8 or iPhone X and hand down your old one to the kids. Check out our list of things to do when kids get their first phone. If they leave the house, the phone goes with them. Teach them about phone etiquette and set parental ground rules. Until they are 18 and out of the house, Scott and I can look at their phones, log into their apps, respond to their friends and treat the phone like a tool and not a toy. The girls must dock their phone by a specified time each night… not only does this force them to charge their devices but it also gives us a daily opportunity to check up on them if we need to.

The answer to how old a child should be before they get their first phone varies based on what your child is involved in and how responsible they are. One thing is for sure… parents reap the benefits of it as well.

What do you feel is the biggest advantage of kids having phones?

12 thoughts on “Why Parents Think Kids Need Phones

  1. I can see how it’d be helpful if kids are in sports or away at friend house. I won’t allow our kids to have their own though unless in sports for a good while yet. Our older 2 are 9 and almost 10.

  2. We allowed our daughters to each have their first phone at 11 and I am sure we will be implementing the same policy with our son in just a few years. I appreciate the ability to always be connected to my kids, as well as track their location if needed.

  3. I mean I have a lot of years before i need to think about this. I know when I was young we got phones at 16…

  4. I told my kids they could get a phone when they went to middle school and had to take the bus and not have me drive them. My oldest is on the spectrum and she missed her bus one day. She borrowed a phone from one of her friends to call me. My husband finally gave in and got all of them a phone the next week.

  5. Smartphones for my kids kind of freak me out to be honest. We will probably start with flip phones once my kids are old enough. Then again we homeschool so phones will not be a huge issue for quite a while.

  6. I liked my kiddos having phones so that I could reach them in a moment’s notice. I also like that they would be able to call me if they needed a ride home.

  7. It’s definitely more convenient to be able to communicate with your child any time you want or need to, but I will always prefer yelling out into the streets to tell them to come home. 🙂

  8. Phones and smart phones are completely different. I can see my kids needing a phone when they have to stay after school for sports, etc, but they don’t really ever NEED a smart phone. Most adults aren’t responsible with a smart phone, so I don’t think kids need one until they’re old enough to drive. ha!

  9. My daughter is only 5, but I know when she’s older I will want a way to for us to be in contact when she’s not with me. I worry about some aspects of it, but I know it’s a necessity

  10. Yes I think kids should have enough responsibility with a phone. With the dangers out here they can access 911

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