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I learned that 70% of houses with kids have tablets.

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Babies use devices...

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That babies use phones

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I have a cell phone but the quiz said i should consider it

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It depends on how the kid uses it and how the ki used to be

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Yes

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I learned from kahoot that a lot of children access the internet from their devices.

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pro makes children more responsible

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so parents will know where their children are at

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i have a cell phone but the quiz says that i am not ready for one.

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The pros do since they are about safety.

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No because if kids do get cyber bullied they should tell their parents but it shouldn't let them get in the way of getting a phone

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yes because parents will be able to get in touch with their kids

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No parents should still let their kids have it because they can talk about dangers.

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Yes because parents will be able to communicate with their children from long distances.

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You can take this quiz to determine if somebody is ready for a cell phone.

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You can take this quiz to determine if somebody is ready for a cell phone.

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First steps.
First haircut.
First day of school.

Life is full of firsts. As you try to decide if it's time for another,
know that we're here to help.

First phones for kids are the new milestone

It used to be that getting your driver's license was the signifying moment when freedom and the race toward growing up started. Times have changed and thanks to an ever-evolving world of iEverything, the timeline has accelerated-having a phone to call your own is the new first step toward independence. One that's happening earlier and earlier among American families.

Avg. age kids in the USA
get a smartphone

Already have internet
access via a personal tablet
or laptop

Number of kids with a
social media account by
age 12

So what about your family? Has the topic of first phones come up? Are you battling a constant plea for a phone because a classmate has one? Are other parents asking you about it? Is it a topic on television and in parenting blogs you read? It seems that no matter where you turn, the conversation about giving kids a first phone is everywhere. But regardless of what forces or factors may be influencing you (or trying to) to take this step, this is a choice you have to be comfortable with.

Katie Hurley, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook talks about the initial consideration phases of giving kids their first phones.

Deciding if your child is ready for a phone

You may think your child is ready for a phone or you may think it's too soon.
Take this quiz to see how
ready your child really is.
Take the quiz

Question 1

Does your child need a
phone to stay in touch?

Question 2

Does your child
break things often?

Question 3

Is your child
honest with you?

Question 4

Does your child understand
how to behave online?

Question 5

Is your child mature enough to
handle the freedoms a
phone would provide?

Great news! It sounds like your kiddo might be ready for a phone of his or her own.

Just to make sure it's really the right time, check out more of the content below for further insights about kids and first-phone ownership.

Retake the quiz

We think you may want to consider waiting a little bit.

A first phone is a big step for kids-one you only want to take when they're ready for it. Check out more of the content on this site so you'll be able to tell when your child is ready for this next step.

Retake the quiz

Doing your homework:
Ready vs. not ready for a phone

Safety, security, and peace of mind

One reason you might decide it's the right time to give your kids a phone is because it can help provide a level of safety and security. If your kids walk to and from school or to after-school activities without an adult, equipping them with a phone means they can always call if plans change, if they need a ride for some reason, or if there's an emergency.

Responsibility

So how do you know if your child is responsible enough to handle having a phone? If your child is generally good at taking care of his or her things and at respecting items in your home, this may not be an area of concern. If your child tends to be careless with belongings or things that belong to others, then maybe it's not quite the right time for a first phone.

Of course, accidents do happen and phones do sometimes take an unexpected tumble onto a hard surface or dive (see: drop) into an open toilet. The good news is that there are a variety of cases designed to be extra tough to help protect a phone in even the clumsiest of hands.

See what Katie Hurley, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook, has to say about how to tell if your kids are responsible enough to handle a phone of their own.

Of course, accidents do happen and phones do sometimes take an unexpected tumble onto a hard surface or dive (see: drop) into an open toilet. The good news is that there are a variety of cases designed to be extra tough to help protect a phone in even the clumsiest of hands.

66 %

of parents feel their kids spend too much time on their phones, and 52% of kids agree

- common sense media

Maturity

If you're going to give your child a phone, he or she should be mature enough to follow your rules for using it. For children who have trouble with rules, a phone could become another opportunity to disobey limitations you've set. Some parents also worry that their kids are developing a "tech obsession," and fear the addition of a phone would further the problem.

A first phone could also be an opportunity for your child to prove him or herself. Set guidelines around phone usage and see how it goes. If you're wondering where to start, check out Aha! Parenting's The first cell phone: Rules for responsibility -it's a great resource if you just need a little help figuring out where to start.

66 %

of parents feel their kids spend too much time on their phones, and 52% of kids agree

- common sense media

Let Katie Hurley, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook, help you evaluate children's maturity levels when considering buying a phone.

Agree on the rules from the start:
Download our Parent-Child Mobile Phone Contract
Download > Download >

Because of all the things phones can do, they're more than just a way to check in. Before giving a phone to your child, make sure there's an understanding about how to conduct one's self online.

Click on the topics below to better understand some important factors surrounding online behavior.

If your kids already have access to online content and social media via a family or school computer or tablet, ask questions about what they're already seeing, reading, playing, etc. on the devices within these controlled environments. Make sure you're comfortable with what they're already doing online, because a phone makes accessing content much easier to do without supervision. For some helpful tips on managing what your child sees online, check out The United States Department of Justice's article, Children internet safety.

Everything your child does online becomes a personal reflection. Establish rules with your kids about being on social networks, taking pictures, sharing certain types of content, and safe texting. Explain that while a communication sent between two people might seem like a private matter, texts and photos can very easily be forwarded and shared-sometimes creating irreversible damage to your child or other children. If you need a little help talking to your kids about the importance of protecting their online reputation, check out American Academy of Pediatrics' Talking to kids and teens about social media and sexting.

Kids can be mean. It's a fact. And it becomes far easier to be cruel when faceless from behind a phone. Make sure it's understood that cyberbullying is still bullying and that text messages and comments on social media should never be sent or made with the intention of making somebody else feel bad. Need help understanding cyberbullying so you can explain it to your kids? Or need help handling it? Check out HelpGuide.org's Dealing with cyberbullying.

If your kids already have access to online content and social media via a family or school computer or tablet, ask questions about what they're already seeing, reading, playing, etc. on the devices within these controlled environments. Make sure you're comfortable with what they're already doing online, because a phone makes accessing content much easier to do without supervision. For some helpful tips on managing what your child sees online, check out The United States Department of Justice's article, Children internet safety.

Everything your child does online becomes a personal reflection. Establish rules with your kids about being on social networks, taking pictures, sharing certain types of content, and safe texting. Explain that while a communication sent between two people might seem like a private matter, texts and photos can very easily be forwarded and shared-sometimes creating irreversible damage to your child or other children. If you need a little help talking to your kids about the importance of protecting their online reputation, check out American Academy of Pediatrics' Talking to kids and teens about social media and sexting.

Kids can be mean. It's a fact. And it becomes far easier to be cruel when faceless from behind a phone. Make sure it's understood that cyberbullying is still bullying and that text messages and comments on social media should never be sent or made with the intention of making somebody else feel bad. Need help understanding cyberbullying so you can explain it to your kids? Or need help handling it? Check out HelpGuide.org's Dealing with cyberbullying.

Online safety for kids If you've already taught your kids about "stranger danger," explain that the same rules apply online. Make sure your kids understand they should only be communicating with people they know. You could go as far as to tell them they can only communicate with people you also know, and with people they have first met in real life. From behind a phone, it is very easy for people to pretend to be someone they are not.

You also want to make sure your kids do not share their location online-either intentionally or because they're using location-sharing apps. You can help safeguard against this by disabling location tracking on certain apps and making sure you approve of the apps being downloaded to make sure they're safe.

Psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook, Katie Hurley discusses children and the importance of online safety.

Benefits that come with a kid's first phone.

There are certainly valid reasons not to give kids a phone before they're ready, but there are also some great benefits once the time is right.

Safety & security
A huge benefit of giving your child a phone is the added safety and security it can provide. The features on many phones allow you to track the device via GPS, letting you see where your kids are at any given time (provided the phone is with them). And with a phone in hand, kids have the ability to call or text you in case of an emergency. Want to know more about how phones can help kids stay safe? Check out kidsinthehouse.com's How cell phones can keep kids safe, a video by child safety expert, Marc Klaas.

Improved communication A phone provides kids and parents with an additional method of communicating with one another-one that your child may find easier than face-to-face conversations that can come off as being lectured or can escalate into arguments. Psychologist Yalda T. Uhls says, "If I want to share a parenting lesson with [my son], I find he will more easily read a text rather than listen to me tell him the exact same thing face to face. It gives him time to absorb the substance of the words rather than tune out my voice." Find out more of the ways communication has improved between Yalda and her son in her
Huffington Post article, Did I buy my son's phone for me or for him?

Education & access to information

With a smartphone, kids instantly have more information in the palm of their hands than could fit into 100 textbooks- and the content is always growing and evolving, providing little learners with an endless resource. Kids can look things up in the moment to answer homework questions, use education-based apps to assist with almost any school subject, and even download flashcard apps to help improve vocabulary and math skills.

Additionally, many teachers are now allowing smartphones in the classroom, utilizing them as a teaching aid instead of treating them as a classroom distraction.

According to parents of kids who use a phone to access educational media:

38 % of kids

access educational
content on a
phone at least
once a week

36 % of the time

amount of time
spent on a phone
vs. other platforms
for educational
purposes

39 % of parents

feel their child has
gained knowledge
across all subjects
via a phone

An entertainment outlet
Just like adults, kids need time to themselves where they can just relax and do something fun. With a smartphone, kids can listen to music to help them de-stress, play games that can help enhance cognitive learning and motor skills, and watch movies and shows that can keep them occupied at times when you need to focus on other things.

Learn about the ways smartphones help kids find personal time to relax and be happy from Katie Hurley, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook.

Benefits that come with a kid's first phone.

There are certainly valid reasons not to give kids a phone before they're ready, but there are also some great benefits once the time is right.

Safety & security

A huge benefit of giving your child a phone is the added safety and security it can provide. The features on many phones allow you to track the device via GPS, letting you see where your kids are at any given time (provided the phone is with them). And with a phone in hand, kids have the ability to call or text you in case of an emergency. Want to know more about how phones can help kids stay safe? Check out kidsinthehouse.com's How cell phones can keep kids safe, a video by child safety expert, Marc Klaas.

Improved communication

A phone provides kids and parents with an additional method of communicating with one another-one that your child may find easier than face-to-face conversations that can come off as being lectured or can escalate into arguments. Psychologist Yalda T. Uhls says, "If I want to share a parenting lesson with [my son], I find he will more easily read a text rather than listen to me tell him the exact same thing face to face. It gives him time to absorb the substance of the words rather than tune out my voice." Find out more of the ways communication has improved between Yalda and her son in her Huffington Post article, Did I buy my son's phone for me or for him?

Education & access to information

With a smartphone, kids instantly have more information in the palm of their hands than could fit into 100 textbooks- and the content is always growing and evolving, providing little learners with an endless resource. Kids can look things up in the moment to answer homework questions, use education-based apps to assist with almost any school subject, and even download flashcard apps to help improve vocabulary and math skills.

Additionally, many teachers are now allowing smartphones in the classroom, utilizing them as a teaching aid instead of treating them as a classroom distraction.

According to parents of kids who use a phone to access educational media:

access educational content on a phone at least once a week

amount of time spent on a phone vs. other platforms for educational purposes

feel their child has gained knowledge across all subjects via a phone

An entertainment outlet

Just like adults, kids need time to themselves where they can just relax and do something fun. With a smartphone, kids can listen to music to help them de-stress, play games that can help enhance cognitive learning and motor skills, and watch movies and shows that can keep them occupied at times when you need to focus on other things.

Learn about the ways smartphones help kids find personal time to relax and be happy from Katie Hurley, psychotherapist, speaker, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook.

Who's the boss? You are.

Apps that keep parents in charge.

Deciding to give your child a phone doesn't mean you're giving up control. In addition to the control functions different operating systems come with, we've designed a family of phone-monitoring apps specifically geared toward helping parents stay in touch with their kids and monitor their phone usage.

Click on an app to learn exactly what it can do.

Sprint Mobile Controls lets parents take charge by easily letting you manage how your child uses his or her phone.

Automatically block or limit phone usage to certain times like during school, during family time, or after bedtime

Get daily updates about when and how often your kids are calling and texting

See who your kids have been calling and texting

See what apps your kids have downloaded

In just a single click, block texts, calls and apps you're not comfortable with

Available for Android devices

Sprint Family Locator provides peace of mind because it allows you to track up to five devices-letting you easily see where family members are at all times.

Locate any phone on your Sprint account-both smartphones and feature phones

Track kids' phones in real time on an interactive map from your phone or computer

Use the Family Locator app to locate a lost or stolen phone

Get check-in alerts when your family members arrive at designated locations, as well as an alert letting you know they did not arrive

Available for Apple and Android devices

Perfect for new drivers, Sprint Drive First helps keep your kids safe by stopping distracted driving and keeping the focus to the road.

Once travelling over certain speeds, phones with Drive First are locked, silencing calls and audible alerts

To help avoid the temptation to take calls or text while driving, incoming calls are directed to voicemail and automatic text replies are sent on the driver's behalf

Emergency numbers and select VIP contacts (like family members) can still be contacted

Once driving is no longer detected, the Sprint Drive First app automatically unlocks and restores phone functionality

Available for Android devices

Simplify family life and help everyone stay connected with this all-in-one social app that lets families privately connect, share and stay organized.

Send messages, pictures, video, and audio privately to one or several members of your Wall

Organize family life with a shared online calendar, shopping lists, customizable task lists and more

Share contacts or locations and view when family members check in

Upload and view photos in a sharable album viewable only by those you've authorized

Available for Apple and Android devices

Who's the boss? You are.
Apps that keep parents in charge

Deciding to give your child a phone doesn't mean you're giving up control. In addition to the control functions different operating systems come with, we've designed a family of phone-monitoring apps specifically geared toward helping parents stay in touch with their kids and monitor their phone usage.

Sprint Family Locator provides peace of mind because it allows you to track up to five devices-letting you easily see where family members are at all times.

Locate any phone on your Sprint account-both smartphones and feature phones

Track kids' phones in real time on an interactive map from your phone or computer

Use the Family Locator app to locate a lost or stolen phone

Get check-in alerts when your family members arrive at designated locations, as well as an alert letting you know they did not arrive

Available for Apple and Android devices

Sprint Mobile Controls lets parents take charge by easily letting you manage how your child uses his or her phone.

Automatically block or limit phone usage to certain times like during school, during family time, or after bedtime

Get daily updates about when and how often your kids are calling and texting

See who your kids have been calling and texting

See what apps your kids have downloaded

In just a single click, block texts, calls and apps you're not comfortable with

Available for Android devices

Perfect for new drivers, Sprint Drive First helps keep your kids safe by stopping distracted driving and keeping the focus to the road.

Once travelling over certain speeds, phones with Drive First are locked, silencing calls and audible alerts

To help avoid the temptation to take calls or text while driving, incoming calls are directed to voicemail and automatic text replies are sent on the driver's behalf

Emergency numbers and select VIP contacts (like family members) can still be contacted

Once driving is no longer detected, the Sprint Drive First app automatically unlocks and restores phone functionality

Available for Android devices

Simplify family life and help everyone stay connected with this all-in-one social app that lets families privately connect, share and stay organized.

Send messages, pictures, video, and audio privately to one or several members of your Wall

Organize family life with a shared online calendar, shopping lists, customizable task lists and more

Share contacts or locations and view when family members check in

Upload and view photos in a sharable album viewable only by those you've authorized

Available for Apple and Android devices

Picking the best phone for your child

If you've decided your child is ready for a phone, the next step is actually picking one.
Before you get into specific features, consider these main factors by clicking on the left/right arrows below:

Help other kids connect: The 1Million Project

As you're considering a new phone for your own child, we'd like to ask that you consider helping one of the millions of less fortunate kids across America by donating an old phone, tablet or mobile hotspot that your family is no longer using to our 1Million Project. All makes and models are accepted, regardless of carrier or condition.

The 1Million Project will help change the lives of 1 million high school students who don't have a reliable source of internet access at home. Sprint will use the proceeds from reselling or recycling your donated devices to provide new ones to disadvantaged students across the country. Sprint will also provide free wireless connectivity so that 1 million low-income high school-age students can stay on track in school.

Learn more about the 1Million Project at sprint.com/1millionproject.

Learn about Sprint's 1Million Project and how it will help students without the Internet in their homes to access the information they need to reach their full potential.

The 1Million Project will help change the lives of 1 million high school students who don't have a reliable source of internet access at home. Sprint will use the proceeds from reselling or recycling your donated devices to provide new ones to disadvantaged students across the country. Sprint will also provide free wireless connectivity so that 1 million low-income high school-age students can stay on track in school.

Learn more about the 1Million Project at sprint.com/1millionproject.

Here's what's next:

Already a Sprint customer?

If your kiddo is ready for a phone, adding a line to your account is the next step.

Add a line

Not a Sprint customer?

We'd love to have you as a customer if you're ready to give your child a phone.

Learn more

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First steps. First haircut. First day of school. Life is full of firsts. As you try to decide if it's time for another, know that we're here to help. First phones for kids are the new milestone It used to be that getting your driver's license was the signifying moment when freedom and the race toward growing up started.

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Do you believe that the pros outweigh the cons ? 

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Do you believe that the pros outweigh the cons ? 

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In a Niche survey of more than 800 users, 77 percent of students got their first cell phone between the ages of 10 and 17, with only 1 percent reporting having never had one.

Cell phones are not just for adults anymore. There's a lot to weigh when it comes to getting phones for kids, including everything from money to cyber bullying. Here are some things to consider.

Benefits of Cell Phones for Kids

The convenience is definitely one of the biggest perks when it comes to buying kids cell phones. When it comes to age, parents will want to consider whether a kid can handle the responsibility, which could depend on the individual (one 10-year-old is not like the other). If a child is involved in a lot of activities and the parents can't always take them to said activities, a cell phone can be a godsend when coordinating schedules and pickup times.

A cell phone can also be a touchstone in times of crisis. If a questionable situation arises at a child's school, parents are able to reach their children via the cell phone. Or, if children feel they are in a dangerous situation, the cell phone can be a lifeline, too.

So given the benefits, cell phones can be helpful to a variety of age groups. Typically, as long as a kid can speak and spell (for texting), a cell phone can work with a child.

Drawbacks of Cell Phones for Kids

Even though there are many gains to giving a child a cell phone, there are just as many drawbacks. One big one is the prevalence of bullying. Technology can facilitate this behavior even more since the Internet enables users to comment anonymously and post messages that stay up "forever." Giving a kid a cell phone could be like giving them a loaded gun when it comes to being tormented-or even tormenting others-online.

Thirty-four percent of Niche high school and college students report having been through 5 or more cell phones in their lifetime, which means cell phones are being used at a very young age.

Finally, besides the emotional and physical consequences, giving a cell phone to a child or teenager may also foster a dependence on technology that can be unhealthy and even get them in trouble in class, since many phones in school are prohibited.

Benefits and Consequences of Cell Phones for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In a Niche survey of more than 800 users, 77 percent of students got their first cell phone between the ages of 10 and 17, with only 1 percent reporting having never had one. Cell phones are not just for adults anymore.

# data[].attributes.body
Should the risk of cyberbullying prevent parents from allowing their children to have cell phones?

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Teens talk about dealing with cyberbullies. Listen in.

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This graph shows the percentage of children having cell phones in different grades.

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This graph shows the percentage of children having cell phones in different grades.

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Play this Kahoot to learn interesting facts.

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Play this Kahoot to learn interesting facts.

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https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/43d53564-e23d-4641-a674-107ebe22ac00

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kahoot

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Discuss this video and article with your group. Do you agree with what Dubravak said?

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It's a question parents have debated for over a decade: At what age should their kids be allowed to have their own cell phones?

The reality is that most kids have mobile cellular devices well before high school.

John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, commissioned a study in 2012 that found nearly 60 percent of parents said they offered cell phones to their children at ages 10 or 11. Since then, that average age has gotten even younger, and the prevalence of cell phones among teens and pre-teens has nearly doubled, said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist and senior director of research at the Consumer Electronics Association.

"Today about 80 percent of teens between 12 and 17 own a cell phone, and about half of those own a smart phone," said DuBravac. "That's about twice the rate from just two years ago."

Some carriers, like Sprint with its "WeGo" device, are marketing cell phones to kids as young as five: "It's not uncommon to see, really, two and three year olds becoming quite fluent with using a touch tablet or a touch device," DuBravac said. "So by the time they turn 6, 7, 8, they're very comfortable with the mobile devices."

But how young is too young? Consumer experts recommend a case-by-case approach.

"Are their kids responsible enough to have a phone when they are, maybe, 8?" Breyault asked. "Or do they need to wait a little later to make sure they know the responsibility that comes with having a phone? So that could be 13, 14, maybe even older.

"...This is an age group where they are doing a lot of activities outside the home, things like sports practices, after-school activities, going over to friends' houses, some of them going to the mall on their own," he went on. "So most parents we surveyed said they were getting the phone so the kid could stay in touch with them."

And though critics abound who believe cellular technology is driving a stake through face-to-face interactions, DuBravac made the case that in an age in which families are often strained for time together, such devices can act as a relationship resuscitator: "Parents I've talked to generally love that their kids have cell phones because they can text them when maybe a call wouldn't work, they could get a note out," he said. "I know students will often send photos of reports or grades that they've gotten to their parents."

Experts recommend that before allowing their children to have cell phones, parents should have a conversation with them about "digital hygiene" practices: staying within data limits, avoiding inappropriate content, and steering clear of privacy risks and cyber-bullying.

"Kids learn by example," DuBravac said. "So they're gonna follow the way you use technology. We encourage parents to use technology wisely, for example if they're in the vehicle, especially if they're driving."

And in the spirit of back-to-school season, teachers, too, will be tasked with staying alert and up to speed on the technology that kids may be bringing into the classroom.

"Many school administrators are wrestling with this problem now," Breyault said. "Certainly having a little computer right in your pocket can be a powerful incentive to try to cheat on tests for example... this poses new questions for them. Do they need to make sure the cell phones stay in book bags or in lockers for example?"

Meanwhile, some school districts are embracing the cell phone craze, installing technology like smart boards, which allow classroom content to be digitally accessed on smart phones or tablets. DuBravac encouraged a "forward-looking" approach for school districts as more kids come wielding mobile devices.

"The use of technology among teens and preteens has always been a storyline," he said, "whether it was the use of portable video games in the 80s or even calculators in the 60s and 70s. So schools have always looked at how technology can be and should be integrated into the curriculum."

Breyault agreed mobile technology offers the potential to be an asset in the classroom: "They know that they have these devices, they know that they're on them constantly," he said. "So certainly there are vast upsides to putting technology and cell phones in the hands of kids and letting them use them in an educational context. But like with any other tool, you have to make sure that it's used appropriately."

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Kids with cell phones: How young is too young?

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It's a question parents have debated for over a decade: At what age should their kids be allowed to have their own cell phones? The reality is that most kids have mobile cellular devices well before high school.

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After reading this article do you believe that cell phones can help make children safer? Why?

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Should young children be able to have iphones?

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Should young children be able to have iphones?