What is the safest age for a child to own a smartphone?
A new study has found that 25% of kids own a smartphone, but is it a wise idea to allow them to have one?
To be honest, I don’t know what I’d do without my cellphone. I mean, I remember having a pager at one point in time (I'm giving away my age here) but when I was at school, there were no cellphones.
In this day and age, cellphones make it so easy to stay in touch, anytime and anywhere, but what is the right age for your child to own a smartphone.
Let’s be honest, if your child does have a cellphone, it’s surely going to make you feel safer just knowing where they are, and in an emergency, a cellphone can be crucial if your child needs to reach you, or vice versa.
But there are also the downsides. They can create text messages, upload images and videos, and download from or surf the internet's adult websites.
According to UNILAD, a new study has found that in the UK that one in four kids under the age of six own a smartphone and spend about 21 hours each week on it.
Read: Four cellphone hacks everyone should know about
While I'm all for kids being able to contact mum and dad when they find themselves in a situation, it got me thinking, what is the right age for them to have one?
Is the decision made based on the child’s maturity level? If they’re able to follow home and school rules - meaning they are responsible, is that then the go-ahead to do so?
A Director of Media Psychology, Dr Pamela Rutledge, told Tom's Guide that it depends on what the device is used for. Parents also need to be cognizant of the fact that there are a lot of education apps offered on smartphones, which could aid in a child's development. Ultimately, the decision lies with the parent.
Read: How to teach your child to read fluently from a young age
What do you think the right age for a child to have a smartphone is, and, as a parent, when did you decide that was okay for your child to own one?