First phone at 10 - too early?

Jan 61 min read

My daughter is turning 10 next month and ALL her friends have phones. She's been asking for one forever. I work from home but my wife commutes and we'd like her to be able to text us after school when she walks home with her friend group. The problem is I see 10-year-olds glued to TikTok and I'm terrified of that happening.

Has anyone given their kid a phone that young? What precautions did you put in place? We're thinking of getting her a cheap iPhone and using Screen Time to lock it down hard - maybe 30 min/day on social stuff, unlimited texting and calls. Too restrictive or too lenient?

6 comments335 views

Comments(6)

JJay H.New DadJan 6

What helped us was asking our daughter what she specifically needed it for. Turned out she just wanted to text her best friend after school. Got her a basic device and she was totally satisfied.

JJason B.New DadJan 6

The social aspect is real though. She might actually feel isolated if everyone else has one and she doesn't. It's tough because the advice to wait doesn't account for how kids experience actual FOMO.

PPhil B.RegularJan 7

10 is crazy early honestly. I'd say wait until middle school starts. That's when mine actually needed one for logistics, not because of peer pressure.

JJasonNew DadJan 7

All her friends having them is exactly the trap. Kids are way less mature at 10 than they think they are. What does she actually need it for besides texting her friends?

MMarcus L.RegularJan 8

We caved at 11 and got our daughter a basic phone with limited internet. Honestly regretted it pretty quick because then came the texts about drama and her staring at it constantly.

MMason T.New DadJan 8

Maybe a compromise? Our family does an old flip phone until they turn 13, then they can get a smartphone with serious restrictions. Seems to work for us.