When Should I Give My Child a Smartphone?

For today’s child or teen, getting a first smartphone is a social rite of passage. For parents, deciding when to give children their first smartphone can be a confusing and challenging question to navigate. There is no single “right answer” to when a child should receive their first smartphone. However, research suggests several factors worth considering to maximize health and safety. 

“Smartphones” include portable touchscreen communication devices designed to perform  a wide range of functions beyond traditional phone capabilities. Notably, this includes the ability to connect to the internet and customize with various apps. More than half of American children receive their first smartphone by age 11, but experts agree that age alone is not enough to consider when timing a child’s first smartphone. Parents should also weigh the unique attributes of the child involved and how the device will be used.

To decide when a child is ready for a smartphone, it is critical to understand your child’s individual needs and abilities. Consider how they personally might relate to different smartphone functions, like text messaging, phone calls, instant video access, and social media.

Some important questions to ask when thinking about your child’s readiness include:

• Is your child displaying high levels of responsibility and maturity elsewhere in life that might carry over to how they use a smartphone? 
• Is your child experiencing social problems, conduct issues, or self-regulation difficulties that a smartphone might worsen?  
• Has your child healthfully and safely engaged with digital media in the past? 
• Have they struggled with technology overuse and related issues in the past? 
• Does your child have any developmental or learning differences that might impact their readiness for a smartphone? 
• Does your child need a smartphone for essential communication with family?
• Do you and your child (or your family as a whole) have established patterns of communication around technology use?

Use this information as background knowledge to weigh your final decision about when to introduce a smartphone to your child. For more on developmental and behavioral signs of readiness, check out our Tip Sheet “Smartphones: Assessing Readiness.”

Another key factor to consider when timing your child’s first smartphone is the family context in which you expect your child will use their device. If it will be difficult to keep younger siblings from accessing an older sibling’s new device, you might choose to delay introducing it or put additional safeguards in place. In cases of divorce and other family structures, early smartphone access for a child might provide an essential line of communication to a parent or sibling. 

Knowing what applications your child might use may also influence the timing of your decision. Many families choose to introduce applications individually, rather than introducing a smartphone and all its features all at once. Allowing a child access to a text message app, for example, might be reasonable at an earlier age than allowing access to social media. This step-by-step approach can allow a family to introduce devices earlier and more safely. Another common approach taken for the same reason is to introduce a so-called “dumb” phone, or alternative device like a smartwatch, which lacks full internet access. This can act as a starter device appropriate for the needs of a child, allowing a family to introduce a device earlier without full smartphone capabilities.  

A child’s first smartphone introduces many new challenges and opportunities to a family. Whenever and however you decide that the time is right for your child, keeping communication with them open and honest is essential. None of these options are foolproof; a child might access phones outside the home or get around restrictions you set in place, sometimes without even realizing they are breaking the rules. Be sure your child knows you are there to answer any questions and concerns they have about their smartphone. Creating an environment that provides children with skills and support will help them navigate their new devices and the digital world.