OK, perhaps I should start at the beginning….
At what age do you think a child should have a smartphone, if at all?
AND
If children do have a smartphone, where do you think they get their smartphone etiquette from?
I’m not sure where I stand on this. With children aged 6 and 9, I still find it rather easy for me to say that my children are much too young and that they will not own a smartphone for a LONG time to come, but it seems like trends are changing!
And with changing trends comes new challenges like smartphone etiquette.
In November, 2014, 1500 Canadian men and women were surveyed and here are some of the findings…
Last week, my hubby shared a review of the Nokia Lumia 830, one of the many smartphone options available. He has also written articles in the past to help parents conquer various technology challenges when it comes to children like How to Set Up An ios Device to be Safer for Kids and Creating and Maintaining a Child Safe Email Account.
What I do know is that once my children are old enough to be out on their own, I likely will feel much better with the knowledge that they can have a cell phone with them in order to be able to reach me if they need assistance OR if I need or want to communicate them when they are not with me.
I also know that children look up to us as role models for how they should behave, react and engage with others so I need to be mindful of setting a good example with how I use my smartphone around my children if I want them to display proper smartphone etiquette when they eventually do get one of their own.
Do you think that Smartphone Etiquette is a Life Skill?
At what age do you feel it is appropriate or necessary for a child to own a smartphone?
I agree with you to a degree. It is a life skill as is all technology use. I kind of lump it in with smart social media use. It will be essential moving forward as digital kids grow, for them to understand how to use responsibly. But I have seen others arguing that 8 is the age to start kids on smart phones and I disagree with that vehemently. Too young. There is such a thing as too young for smart phones. I got my daughter a connected smart phone when she turned 13 and I still watch her like a hawk and confiscate it when it is not being used properly.
I agree with you, Paula. In my opinion 8 is too young. My kids do have devices that they use just at home on wifi and we keep them locked down quite tight and watch them VERY carefully too! In fact, they don’t even have access to the internet – they are locked out of it! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
I definitely agree that it is a life skill. I’m not fundamentally against children having smart phones at a specific age and think that kids of a range of ages are capable of using technology responsibly and irresponsibly. All the more reason for parents and their kids to have conversations about safe usage.
I hear what you are saying, completely. Those conversations about safety are definitely crucial! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Victoria!
I think 13 is a good age for a child to get a phone
I do think that children should be older before they get a smart phone, probably around 13/14. It is definitely a fact that children have to be made aware of the dangers of going on line and I don’t think that they can comprehend that when they are young. What is out there can never be retracted and that is an important thing for them to know and appreciate.
I think around 14-15 is a good time for a child to get a phone because they have entered high school and will be out and about more so on their own. I also feel like in elementary school there is absolutely no need for a cell phone because they are in the same classroom with the same group of students for a entire school year. They develop bonds with that group and having a cell phone can make bonds that can only be built through texting and not through general conversation face to face. Also they remain on school grounds during lunch so there is no fear of wondering where they can be on recess or lunch break. If an emergency arises the teachers or other staff are there to help.