Thinking about getting my 8yo their first phone

Aug 11·1 min read

My kid is the last one in their class without a phone apparently. They're responsible and good in school so part of me thinks it's okay. But I'm also terrified of what's out there. Looking at getting them something with parental controls. What age did you guys give phones? And which devices have the best monitoring? I want them safe but also don't want to be overbearing.

3 comments170 views

Comments(3)

VVincentRegularAug 11

I get the pressure, but honestly I'd wait. Yeah, everyone has one, but that doesn't mean your kid needs one at 8. My oldest got one at 10 and it was still complicated. How responsible are we talking? Because 'good in school' and 'ready for a smartphone' are two different things.

EEvan M.RegularAug 12

Being the last one sounds rough, I know. But you're setting the pace for your family, not their classmates. My take: wait a year or two, then revisit. If they're truly responsible, they'll still be responsible at 9 or 10. The rush isn't worth the headache.

CCarlosRegularAug 12

Just went through this with my 8yo actually. We compromised with a basic tablet with strict parental controls first. Felt like a good middle ground before jumping to a full phone. Might be worth considering?