When is it advisable to give a mobile phone to a child?

Author: Rosa García | Educator and Early Childhood Educator @pizpirettacoqueta



Nowadays, when the rush and stress of the endless activities we adults do overwhelm us, when you get home, all you want is a little peace and quiet, but this is an illusion if you have a little one or several, let alone teenagers. So, to achieve that peace of mind, even for five minutes, a lightbulb hits you and you decide to let your child use their phone. Now, I ask you, is it only five minutes? I don't think so. What benefits does this bring? It's peace of mind for you, but it takes away quality time for the little ones to stare at a phone screen, and this is only true for children under 10-12 years old.

I'm going to focus this article on introducing cell phones at this age. When is it recommended? How long can I leave it with them?
As an educator, I believe that cell phones are necessary as long as adolescents have the ability to control them, not just because they need them. Personally, and based on several studies, they could use them starting at age 12 or 13, although I would recommend starting at age 15, as long as there is parental control, especially when using certain social media platforms and their content.



I would like to list some dangers associated with using mobile phones at an early age:

1. Access to inappropriate content : On the Internet you can find countless pages, some of them inappropriate, one of them being access to pornography or violent content.
2. Bullying : Bullying can reach the home or any other corner of the world through technology. Cyberbullying is one of the greatest dangers children face. It's necessary to educate children to respect others so that these practices don't occur; it's not necessary to prohibit them.
3. Addiction : Uncontrolled use of mobile phones can lead to addiction, especially to social media, games, and so on. One of the consequences of this addiction is sleep deprivation or nighttime awakenings, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
4. Contact with strangers : Many people can use this means to take advantage of the innocence of children; to avoid this, adult supervision would be a good option.

On the other hand, I'll give you some tips to keep this topic from driving you crazy:

1. Appropriate age : It can vary between 12 or 15 years depending on each home, but never before 12 years.
2. Fluid and constant communication with our children : It is essential that parents exercise authority and make clear the rules regarding cell phone use and their free time.
3. Control tools such as apps to block different pages that are inappropriate for children : This blocking can be gradual and progressive, and these restrictions can be reduced depending on the child's maturity.
4. Define the purpose of the phone : Know what the child wants the phone for, whether it's to talk to friends or watch videos, or if they want it because everyone has one so it fits in. The phone should be adapted to their needs and age.
5. Setting limits is essential : It is advisable to set schedules so that it does not affect other daily activities.

Having said all this and answering my initial question, the answer will vary depending on the family, but something very important that has to be present in that teenager to use that cell phone is maturity .