{"id":122815,"date":"2021-06-15T05:40:12","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T12:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=122815"},"modified":"2025-05-07T22:23:19","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T05:23:19","slug":"how-to-prepare-for-your-childs-first-smartphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/how-to-prepare-for-your-childs-first-smartphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare for Your Child\u2019s First Smartphone"},"content":{"rendered":"

If only more things in life came with training\u00a0wheels;\u00a0a\u00a0child\u2019s first smartphone could certainly use some.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like\u00a0taking off the training wheels and riding out\u00a0into the neighborhood\u00a0for the first time, a smartphone\u00a0opens\u00a0an entirely new world for children.\u00a0There are\u00a0apps, social media, group chats with friends, TikTok stars, and the joy of simply being \u201cin\u201d with their classmates and friends through the shared experience of the internet.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For parents,\u00a0the\u00a0similarities\u00a0between first\u00a0bike\u00a0rides and first phones\u00a0continue. You love the growing independence that this moment brings, yet you also wonder what your child will encounter out there when you\u2019re not around.\u00a0The good\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0bad. How have you prepared them for this? Are they\u00a0really ready?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When is my child ready for a smartphone?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

That\u2019s the question, isn\u2019t it\u2014when is my child ready for that first smartphone?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For years, your child has dabbled on the internet, whether that was playing on your phone while they were little,\u00a0letting them spend time on\u00a0a tablet,\u00a0or\u00a0using\u00a0a computer for school. Along the way, there have been teaching moments, little lessons you\u2019ve imparted about staying safe, how to treat others online, and so forth. In other words, you\u2019ve\u00a0introduced\u00a0the internet\u00a0to your child\u00a0in steps.\u00a0Giving\u00a0them\u00a0their own phone is\u00a0yet\u00a0another step,\u00a0but\u00a0a big one.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet those teaching moments and little lessons are things that they\u2019ll lean on when they\u2019re on their\u00a0own\u00a0phone\u2014whether those were about \u201cstranger dangers\u201d online, proper\u00a0online\u00a0etiquette, and the difference between safe and unsafe websites.\u00a0Understanding if your child has a\u00a0firm foundation for navigating all the highs and lows of the internet is a strong indication of their readiness. After all, safely entering the always-online world of\u00a0having a\u00a0smartphone demands a level of\u00a0intellectual and\u00a0emotional\u00a0maturity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Is there a right age for a first smartphone?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Good question. We do know that smartphone usage by children is on the rise.\u00a0For example, research from Common Sense Media indicates that 53%\u00a0of 11-year-olds have a smartphone, a number that jumps to 69%\u00a0at age 12. That\u2019s quite a bit of\u00a0smartphone\u00a0use by tweens,\u00a0use\u00a0which\u00a0may be\u00a0lightly monitored or not monitored at all. Note\u00a0the percentage\u00a0of ownership\u00a0by age\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0volume of\u00a0screen time\u00a0that follows\u00a0in the infographic below:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why the\u00a0rise, particularly in very young owners?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0However, does that mean 26%\u00a0of nine-year-olds\u00a0should have unfettered and all-day access to the internet in the palm of their hands?\u00a0That\u2019s a topic for\u00a0you\u00a0to decide for\u00a0yourself\u00a0and\u00a0for\u00a0the good of\u00a0your\u00a0family.\u00a0However, if\u00a0the notion of\u00a0a third grader with a smartphone seems a little on the young side to you, there are alternatives to smartphones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smartphone alternatives for young children<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If\u00a0keeping in touch is the\u00a0primary reason for considering a smartphone,\u00a0you have\u00a0internet-free\u00a0options\u00a0that\u00a0you can consider:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n