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What age should a child get a phone?
Few parenting questions start as many debates at the school gate. There's no right age, but there are better and worse reasons, and more options than "smartphone or nothing".
What other families do
Ofcom's 2024 figures for the UK found that around a quarter of three to seven-year-olds had their own smartphone. That rose to 59% of eight to 11-year-olds and 95% of 12 to 15-year-olds.
Plenty of families are pushing back too, holding off until secondary school or later. Neither choice is wrong.
Start with why
For most parents, the honest answer is contact and peace of mind: walking to school, after-school clubs, being able to reach each other. If that's the reason, a smartphone may be more than you need.
Questions to ask first
- What do they actually need it for?
- Can they look after something valuable without losing it?
- How will you handle screen time, apps and group chats?
- Most social media apps set 13 as their minimum age. Are you ready to say no to them?
- Will you set up parental controls, and agree some family phone rules together?
The options in between
- A basic phone. Calls and texts, no apps, and much cheaper to lose.
- A kids' smartwatch. Calls and location, but visible, and another screen to manage.
- A GPS tracker or safety device. Location and alerts with no apps or social media, though not usually calls. Our guide to choosing a child safety device covers what to ask.
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We're building Mya'Shield, an early alert safety device for children who aren't ready for a phone. It isn't a phone, so there are no apps or social media to manage.