When Should a Child Get Their First Phone?

Kids want phones younger than ever.

Parents feel the pressure — safety, social life, school.

Back in the 2000s it was a Nokia with Snake.
Fun, harmless, limited.

Now a phone is a full-blown portal.
Friends, strangers, games, shopping, TikTok, everything.

That changes the rules.

It’s not just about the device.

It’s about how you set it up.

A dumb phone, a smartwatch, or the latest iPhone… doesn’t matter as much as the boundaries wrapped around it.

Phones can be brilliant tools.
They can also be stress machines.

The difference? You.

Age is a guide.

Maturity is the real marker.

Nine is often too young.
Eleven or twelve can still be risky.

Experts say the longer you delay a smartphone, the better.

Each year of waiting means less anxiety, better sleep, healthier habits.

Start small.

Give them a flip phone.
Give them a smartwatch with GPS.
Or a stripped-back phone with no socials, no camera, no browser.

Then unlock features as they earn it.

Think of it as digital P-plates.
Training wheels for their online life.

Rules matter.

No phones in the bedroom at night.
No phones at the dinner table.
Homework first, screen second.

Apps don’t just appear.
They’re discussed, agreed on, approved.

And yes — kids copy you.
If you scroll constantly, they will too.

Show them balance.
Call yourself out.
They’ll respect that.

The risks are real.

Sleep ruined by midnight scrolling.
Self-esteem crushed by filters and likes.
Anxiety fuelled by endless comparison.

Even front cameras can trigger self-doubt.
Every ding of a notification keeps their brain wired.

Boundaries aren’t optional — they’re survival.

But here’s the BIG ISSUE.

Phones don’t just connect kids.
They shape their digital identity.

Every post.
Every photo.
Every like or comment.

That’s their online self forming.

Help them think about who they want to be seen as.

Teach them likes don’t define worth.
Encourage creativity, learning, curiosity.

Resilience is the real skill.
Not hiding from negativity, but knowing how to handle it.

So what’s the bottom line?

Your child’s first phone is not just a gift.
It’s not just a gadget.

It’s a licence.
A ticket into the digital world.

Give it carefully.
Start with limits.
Stay involved.
Unlock slowly.

Hand them responsibility in pieces.

That’s how they learn balance.
That’s how you stay sane.
That’s how tech becomes a tool, not a trap.